Chimeric receptor with nkg2d specificity for use in cell therapy against cancer and infectious disease

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a chimeric receptor comprising NKG2D, DAP10 and CD3 zeta. Also disclosed is a composition comprising this chimeric receptor and methods for making and using it to enhance the cytotoxicity and antitumor capacity of NK cells. The invention also encompasses methods for use of NKG2D-DAP10-CD3 zeta polypeptides, vectors and cells in methods for treating cancer and other proliferative disorders, as well as infectious diseases.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/337,854, filed Oct. 28, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/764,070, filed Jul. 28, 2015, now issued as U.S.Pat. No. 9,511,092, which is the United States National PhaseApplication under 35 USC § 371 of International Patent Application No.PCT/US2014/013292, filed on Jan. 28, 2014, which published as WO2014/117121 on Jul. 31, 2014 and claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 61/757,481, filed Jan. 28, 2013. The entirety ofeach of these applications are incorporated by reference herein.

SEQUENCE LISTING

The instant application contains a Sequence Listing which has beensubmitted in ASCII format via EFS-Web and is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety. Said ASCII copy, created on Jan. 24, 2014, isnamed PTO-Seq_listing-JUDE51.TXT, and is 37,845 bytes in size.

1. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1.1 Field of the Invention

Natural killer (NK) cells can recognize tumor cells as targets and assuch may be useful for immunotherapy of cancer (Vivier et al., 2011,Science 331:44-49; Ruggeri et al., 2002, Science 295:2097-2100; Cooleyet al., 2010, Blood 116:2411-2419; Miller et al., 2005, Blood105:3051-3057; Rubnitz et al., 2010, J Clin Oncol. 28:955-959).Infusions of NK cells have been used to treat patients with variousforms of cancer (Vivier et al., 2011, Science 331:44-49; Caligiuri,2008, Blood 112(3):461-469; Ruggeri et al., 2002, Science 295:2097-2100;Miller et al., 2005, Blood 105:3051-3057). Methods are available thatmake it possible to obtain a large number of human NK cells thatdemonstrate a higher anti-tumor capacity than that of non-expanded NKcells (see U.S. Pat. No. 7,435,596; Imai et al., 2005, Blood 106:376-83;Fujisaki et al., 2009, Cancer Res. 69: 4010-4017; Cho et al., 2010, ClinCancer Res. 16:3901-3909).

The capacity of NK cells to kill tumor cells depends on the combinedeffect of inhibitory and stimulatory signals delivered through surfacereceptors (Caligiuri, 2008, Blood 112(3):461-469; Vivier et al., 2011,Science 331:44-49). On the one hand, the interaction between somemembers of the killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) family on NKcells and cognate HLA Class I molecules on potential target cellsproduces inhibitory signals, a mechanism that prevents the killing ofautologous cells (Vivier et al., 2011, Science 331:44-49; Caligiuri,2008, Blood 112(3):461-469). On the other hand, signals from activatingreceptors are triggered by ligands expressed predominantly byvirally-infected and tumor cells; hence, these receptors are central tothe capacity of NK cells to recognize and lyse unhealthy cells(Caligiuri, 2008, Blood 112(3):461-469; Vivier et al., 2011, Science331:44-49).

A key receptor for NK cell activation is Natural killer Group 2 member D(NKG2D), a type II transmembrane-anchored C-type lectin-like proteinexpressed in all NK cells and in some T cell subsets (Ho et al., 1998,Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 95:6320-5; Bauer et al., 1999, Science285:727-729; Champsaur et al., 2010, Immunol. Rev. 235:267-285). NKG2Dhas multiple ligands including MHC class I chain-related A (MICA), MICBand several UL-16-binding proteins (ULBPs) which are preferentiallyexpressed after cellular stress, infection or DNA damage (Bauer et al.,1999, Science 285:727-729; Gasser et al., 2005, Nature 436:1186-1190).

NKG2D ligands are widely expressed among cancer cells (Groh et al.,1999, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 96:6879-6884; Pende et al., 2002,Cancer Res. 62:6178-6186). Indeed, there is strong evidence for animportant role of NKG2D in NK cell-mediated anti-tumor activity in vitroand in animal models (Vivier et al., 2011, Science 331:44-49; Champsauret al., 2010, Immunol. Rev. 235:267-285; Smyth et al., 2005, J. Exp.Med. 202:583-588; Routes et al., 2005, J. Exp. Med. 202:1477-82;Stem-Ginossar et al., 2008, Nat. Immunol 9:1065-1073; Karimi et al.,2005, J. Immunol. 175:7819-7828; Guerra et al., 2008, Immunity28:571-580; Cho et al., 2010, Clin. Cancer Res. 16:3901-3909; Raulet,2003, Nat. Rev. Immunol. 3:781-790; Bryceson et al., 2008, Eur. J.Immunol. 38:2957-2961).

NKG2D is associated with DNAX-activating protein 10 (DAP10), whichpromotes and stabilizes its surface membrane expression (Wu et al.,1999, Science 285:730-732; Diefenbach et al., 2002, Nat. Immunol.3:1142-1149; Garrity et al., 2005, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA.102:7641-7646; Horng et al., 2007, Nat. Immunol. 8:1345-1352; Park etal., 2011, Blood 118:3019-3027). NKG2D lacks a signaling motif in itscytoplasmic domain; signal transduction occurs upon ligation via thephosphorylation of DAP10, which recruits downstream signaling effectormolecules and, ultimately, cytotoxicity (Wu et al., 1999, Science285:730-732; Upshaw et al., 2006, Nat. Immunol. 7:524-532). U.S. Pat.No. 7,994,298 discloses the use of chimeric receptors comprising anextracellular domain comprising the C-type lectin-like natural killercell receptor, NKG2D or associated protein, DAP10, fused to an immunesignaling receptor, CD3 zeta, for expression in T cells.

Despite the promise that NK cells have shown for use in anti-cancertherapy, some cancer subtypes remain relatively insensitive even toactivated NK cells. As a result, genetic modification of T cells, ratherthan NK cells, is used to express chimeric receptors for redirecting Tcells against tumor cells for anti-cancer therapy. For use in clinicalapplications, however, T cells have the disadvantage that that they maycause potentially fatal graft-versus-host disease after infusion if theyare not obtained from the patient being treated, i.e., autologous cells.

2. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Provided herein is an artificial chimeric receptor complex composed ofan NK receptor, NKG2D, and two stimulatory molecules, DAP10 and CD3 zeta(also called “CD3zeta” or “CD3z”); this artificial chimeric receptor isreferred to herein as “NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta.” The invention is based, inpart, on the applicants' discovery and design of a compositions andmethods for making and using a chimeric receptor complex that enhancesthe cytotoxicity and antitumor capacity of NK cells and hence theirtherapeutic efficacy. In particular, the applicants have designed andconstructed a polynucleotide encoding NKG2D, DAP10 and CD3zeta,expressed it in activated NK cells, and demonstrated its ability toboost the signaling anti-cancer potential of NK cells in vitro and invivo. The NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta compositions and methods provided hereinmay be used in immunotherapy against cancer, as well as infectiousdiseases. Because no precedent exists for an artificial chimericreceptors that is highly active in NK cells and useful for NK cellimmunotherapy, the discovery of NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta was highlyunexpected.

Further provided are compositions and methods for the use ofNKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta complex to enhance NK cell antitumor capacity foranti-cancer therapy. The invention also encompasses methods for the useof NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta polypeptides, vectors and cells in methods fortreating cancer and other proliferative disorders, as well as infectiousdiseases.

When expressed in activated NK cells, this chimeric antigen receptorcomplex markedly enhances the capacity of NK cells to kill tumor cellsin vitro and in animal models. The chimeric antigen receptor complexdoes not significantly increase the cytotoxicity of NK cells againstnormal cells and does not present a disadvantage over infusion ofnon-genetically modified NK cells.

The NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta polynucleotide can be expressed in NK cellseither using a retroviral vector, or by electroporation of thecorresponding mRNA. The electroporation method greatly facilitates itsuse in clinical applications. Because expression by electroporation doesnot require prior cell culture, it is possible to rapidly adapt thetechnology to large-scale clinical conditions.

Provided herein is a polynucleotide encoding: (a) a CD3zeta signalingdomain, (b) an extracellular ligand-binding domain comprising a NaturalKiller Group 2 member D receptor (NKG2D), (c) a DNAX-activating protein10 (DAP10), wherein a nucleotide sequence encoding said DAP10 isoperably linked to a nucleotide sequence comprising an internal ribosomeentry site (IRES). In one embodiment, the polynucleotide is an mRNA. Inanother embodiment, the polynucleotide is operably linked to at leastone regulatory element for the expression of the chimeric antigenreceptor complex.

In another embodiment, the CD3 zeta signaling domain comprises the aminoacid sequence of SEQ ID NO:10. In another embodiment, the CD3 zetasignaling domain is encoded by the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:9.In another embodiment, the NKG2D receptor domain comprises the aminoacid sequence of SEQ ID NO:12. In yet another embodiment, the NKG2Dreceptor domain is encoded by the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:11.In another embodiment, the DAP10 comprises the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO:14. In another embodiment, the DAP10 is encoded by the nucleicacid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13. In yet another embodiment, the CD3 zetasignaling domain comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:10, theNKG2D receptor domain comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:12,and the DAP10 comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:14.

Also provided herein is an NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta chimeric receptorexpression comprising a polynucleotide encoding: (a) a CD3 zetasignaling domain, (b) an NKG2D extracellular ligand-binding domain, and(c) a DAP10, wherein a nucleotide sequence encoding the DAP10 isoperably linked to a nucleotide sequence comprising an IRES, and whereinthe polynucleotide is operatively linked to at least one regulatoryelement for expression of the NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta chimeric receptor. Inone embodiment, the vector is a retrovirus. In a specific embodiment,the vector is a murine stem cell virus (MSCV).

Also provided herein is an isolated genetically engineered cellcomprising a polynucleotide encoding: (a) a CD3 zeta signaling domain,(b) an NKG2D extracellular ligand-binding domain, (c) a nucleotidesequence comprising an internal ribosome entry site (IRES), and (d) aDAP10, wherein a nucleotide sequence encoding the DAP10 is operablylinked to a nucleotide sequence comprising an IRES, and wherein thepolynucleotide is operatively linked to at least one regulatory elementfor expression of the chimeric receptor. In one embodiment, the isolatedgenetically engineered cell is a natural killer (NK) cell. In anotherembodiment, the isolated genetically engineered cell is a T lymphocyte.In another embodiment, the isolated genetically engineered cell is ahuman cell. In another embodiment, the isolated genetically engineeredcell is an autologous cell isolated from a patient having a cancer or aninfectious disease. In yet another embodiment, the isolated geneticallyengineered cell is an allogenic cell isolated from a donor. In yetanother embodiment, the isolated genetically engineered cell is anautologous cell isolated from a patient having a cancer, wherein thecancer is a T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), a B-cell acutelymphocytic leukemia, a lymphoblastic leukemia, a B-cell chroniclymphocytic leukemia or a B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, prostatecarcinoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, neuroblastoma, Ewing sarcoma, coloncarcinoma, gastric carcinoma, lung squamous cell carcinoma, hepatoma, orbreast carcinoma.

Further provided herein is a method of increasing or enhancingcytotoxicity of an NK cell or T lymphocyte in a mammal in need thereofcomprising administering to said mammal an expanded population of NKcells or T lymphocytes, wherein said NK cells or T lymphocytes comprisea polynucleotide encoding: (a) a CD3 zeta signaling domain, (b) an NKG2Dreceptor extracellular ligand-binding domain, and (c) a DAP10, wherein anucleic acid sequence encoding the DAP10 is operably linked to an IRESfor expressing the DAP10. In one embodiment of this method, thecytotoxicity of the NK cell is increased or enhanced without significantincrease in cytotoxic activity against non-tumor cells in said mammal.In another embodiment, the cytotoxicity against non-tumor cells is lessthan 20% cytoxicity.

In one embodiment of this method, the NK cells are donor NK cells. In afurther embodiment of this method the NK cells are autologous NK cells.In another embodiment, the CD3 zeta signaling domain comprises the aminoacid sequence of SEQ ID NO:10. In yet another embodiment, the CD3 zetasignaling domain is encoded by the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:9.In yet another embodiment, the NKG2D receptor domain comprises the aminoacid sequence of SEQ ID NO:12. In yet another embodiment, the NKG2Dreceptor domain is encoded by the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:11.In yet another embodiment, the DAP10 comprises the amino acid sequenceof SEQ ID NO:14. In yet another embodiment, the DAP10 is encoded by thenucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13. In yet another embodiment, theCD3 zeta signaling domain comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ IDNO:10, the NKG2D receptor domain comprises the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO:12, and the DAP10 comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ IDNO:14. In another embodiment, the CD3 zeta signaling domain is encodedby the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:9, the NKG2D receptor domainis encoded by the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:11, and the DAP10is encoded by the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13. In anotherembodiment, the mammal is suffering from a cancer of B-cell origin. Inanother embodiment, the cancer of B-cell origin is a B-lineage acutelymphoblastic leukemia, B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia or a B-cellnon-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In yet another embodiment, the mammal issuffering from lung cancer, melanoma, breast cancer, prostate cancer,colon cancer, renal cell carcinoma, ovarian cancer, neuroblastoma,rhabdomyosarcoma, leukemia and lymphoma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia,small cell lung cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma, or childhood acutelymphoblastic leukemia.

Also provided herein is a method for reducing tumor burden in a mammal,said method comprising administering to a mammal in need thereof atherapeutically effective amount of an expanded population of NK cells,wherein said NK cells comprise a polynucleotide comprising: (a) anucleotide sequence encoding a CD3 zeta signaling domain, (b) anucleotide sequence encoding an extracellular ligand-binding domaincomprising an NKG2D receptor, (c) a nucleotide sequence comprising anIRES; and (d) a nucleotide sequence encoding a DAP10 operably linked tosaid IRES for expressing the DAP10.

Further provided herein is a method for treating, protecting against, orameliorating a cancer or an infectious disease in a mammal, said methodcomprising administering to a mammal in need thereof a therapeuticallyeffective amount of an expanded population of NK cells, wherein said NKcells comprise a polynucleotide comprising: (a) a nucleotide sequenceencoding a CD3 zeta signaling domain, (b) a nucleotide sequence encodingan extracellular ligand-binding domain comprising an NKG2D receptor, (c)a nucleotide sequence comprising an IRES; and (d) a nucleotide sequenceencoding a DAP10 operably linked to said IRES for expressing the DAP10.

In another embodiment, a method is provided for treating, protectingagainst, or ameliorating a cancer or an infectious disease in a mammal,said method comprising administering to a mammal in need thereof atherapeutically effective amount of an expanded population of NK cellsor T cells, wherein said NK cells or T cells comprise (a) a first mRNAencoding an NKG2D receptor domain and a CD3 zeta signaling domain and(b) a second mRNA encoding a DAP10 polypeptide, which first and secondmRNA were delivered into said NK cell or T cell by electroporation. In aspecific embodiment of this method, the first mRNA comprises SEQ IDNO:25. In another specific embodiment, the second mRNA comprises SEQ IDNO:26. In another specific embodiment, the first mRNA comprises SEQ IDNO:25 and the second mRNA comprises SEQ ID NO:26.

In one embodiment of the methods of the invention, the NK cells aredonor NK cells. In another embodiment, the NK cells are autologous NKcells. In another embodiment, the CD3 zeta signaling domain comprisesthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:10. In yet another embodiment, theCD3 zeta signaling domain is encoded by the nucleic acid sequence of SEQID NO:9. In yet another embodiment, the NKG2D receptor domain comprisesthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:12. In yet another embodiment, theNKG2D receptor domain is encoded by the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ IDNO:11. In yet another embodiment, the DAP10 comprises the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO:14. In yet another embodiment, the DAP10 isencoded by the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13. In yet anotherembodiment, the CD3 zeta signaling domain comprises the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO:10, the NKG2D receptor domain comprises the aminoacid sequence of SEQ ID NO:12, and the DAP10 comprises the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO:14. In another embodiment, the CD3 zeta signalingdomain is encoded by the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:9, the NKG2Dreceptor domain is encoded by the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:11,and the DAP10 is encoded by the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13.In another embodiment, the mammal is suffering from a cancer of B-cellorigin. In another embodiment, the cancer of B-cell origin is aB-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia, B-cell chronic lymphocyticleukemia or a B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In yet another embodiment,the mammal is suffering from lung cancer, melanoma, breast cancer,prostate cancer, colon cancer, renal cell carcinoma, ovarian cancer,neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, leukemia and lymphoma, acutelymphoblastic leukemia, small cell lung cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma, orchildhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Further provided herein is a method for treating a mammal suffering fromcancer or an infectious disease comprising administering to said mammalan NK cell or a T lymphocyte, wherein the NK cell or T lymphocytecomprises vector comprising a polynucleotide encoding: (a) a nucleotidesequence encoding a CD3 zeta signaling domain, (b) a nucleotide sequenceencoding an extracellular ligand-binding domain comprising an NKG2Dreceptor, and (c) a nucleotide sequence encoding a DAP10 operably linkedto an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) for expression of the DAP10,wherein the polynucleotide is operatively linked to at least oneregulatory element for expression of the chimeric receptor.

In one embodiment, the vector is a retrovirus. In another embodiment,the vector is an MSCV. In another embodiment, the cancer is of B-cellorigin. In another embodiment, the cancer is selected from the groupconsisting of B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia, B-cell chroniclymphocytic leukemia and B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In anotherembodiment, the cancer is selected from the group consisting of lungcancer, melanoma, breast cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, renalcell carcinoma, ovarian cancer, neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma,lymphoma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, small cell lung carcinoma,Hodgkin's lymphoma, childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia,fibrosarcoma, myxosarcoma, liposarcoma, chondrosarcoma, osteogenicsarcoma, chordoma, angiosarcoma, endotheliosarcoma, lymphangiosarcoma,lymphangioendotheliosarcoma, synovioma, mesothelioma, Ewing's tumor,leiomyosarcoma, pancreatic cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cellcarcinoma, adenocarcinoma, sweat gland carcinoma, sebaceous glandcarcinoma, papillary carcinoma, papillary adenocarcinomas,cystadenocarcinoma, medullary carcinoma, bronchogenic carcinoma,hepatoma, bile duct carcinoma, choriocarcinoma, seminoma, embryonalcarcinoma, Wilms' tumor, cervical cancer, testicular tumor, bladdercarcinoma, epithelial carcinoma, glioma, astrocytoma, medulloblastoma,craniopharyngioma, ependymoma, pinealoma, hemangioblastoma, acousticneuroma, oligodendroglioma, meningioma, retinoblastoma, acutelymphocytic leukemia, acute myelocytic leukemia, chronic leukemia,polycythemia vera, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, Waldenström'smacroglobulinemia, and heavy chain disease. In another embodiment, thecancer is selected from the group consisting of T-cell ALL, B-cell ALL,osteosarcoma, prostate carcinoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, neuroblastoma, Ewingsarcoma, colon carcinoma, gastric carcinoma, lung squamous cellcarcinoma, hepatoma, and breast carcinoma.

3. DESCRIPTION OF THE SEQUENCE LISTING

SEQ ID NO: 1 is the nucleotide sequence of the forward primer for thecloning of the cytoplasmic domain of human CD3 zeta.

SEQ ID NO: 2 is the nucleotide sequence of the reverse primer for thecloning of the cytoplasmic domain of human CD3 zeta.

SEQ ID NO: 3 is the nucleotide sequence of the forward primer for thecloning of human NKG2D.

SEQ ID NO: 4 is the nucleotide sequence of the reverse primer for thecloning of human NKG2D.

SEQ ID NO: 5 is the nucleotide sequence of the forward primer for thecloning of human DAP10 and the FLAG-tag.

SEQ ID NO: 6 is the nucleotide sequence of the reverse primer for thecloning of human DAP10 and the FLAG-tag.

SEQ ID NO: 7 is the nucleotide sequence ofpMSCV-CD3zeta-NKG2D-IRES-DAP10-FLAG-tag.

SEQ ID NO: 8 is the nucleotide sequence ofpMSCV-CD3zeta-NKG2D-IRES-DAP10.

SEQ ID NO: 9 is the nucleotide sequence of the cDNA encoding thecytoplasmic domain of human CD3 zeta of the chimeric receptor.

SEQ ID NO: 10 is the amino acid sequence of the cytoplasmic domain ofhuman CD3 zeta of the chimeric receptor.

SEQ ID NO: 11 is the nucleotide sequence of the cDNA encoding humanNKG2D of the chimeric receptor.

SEQ ID NO: 12 is the amino acid sequence of human NKG2D of the chimericreceptor.

SEQ ID NO: 13 is the nucleotide sequence of human DAP10 cDNA.

SEQ ID NO: 14 is the amino acid sequence of human DAP10.

SEQ ID NO: 15 is the nucleotide sequence of the FLAG-tag.

SEQ ID NO: 16 is the amino acid sequence of the FLAG-tag.

SEQ ID NO: 17 is the nucleotide sequence of DAP10-FLAG-tag.

SEQ ID NO: 18 is the amino acid sequence of DAP10-FLAG-tag.

SEQ ID NO: 19 is the nucleotide sequence ofCD3zeta-NKG2D-IRES-DAP10-FLAG-tag.

SEQ ID NO: 20 is the nucleotide sequence of CD3zeta-NKG2D-IRES-DAP10.

SEQ ID NO: 21 is the nucleotide sequence of human NKG2D cDNA.

SEQ ID NO: 22 is the amino acid sequence of human NKG2D.

SEQ ID NO: 23 is the nucleotide sequence of pCMV6-XL5-CD3zeta-NKG2D.

SEQ ID NO: 24 is the nucleotide sequence of pCMV6-XL5-DAP10.

SEQ ID NO: 25 is the nucleotide sequence of CD3zeta-NKG2D mRNA.

SEQ ID NO: 26 is the nucleotide sequence of DAP10 mRNA.

4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1E: show a recombinant polynucleotide chimeric receptor of theinvention, NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta in a retroviral construct, and itsexpression in NK cells. 1A: Schematic representation of theNKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta receptor and retroviral vector construct. 1B: Meanfluorescence intensity (MFI) of NKG2D expression in expanded NK cellsfrom 21 donors transduced with a vector containing green fluorescentprotein (GFP) only (“mock”) or a vector containing theNKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta receptor construct; horizontal lines indicate medianvalues. To measure levels of NKG2D, an anti-NKG2D antibody conjugated toPerCP was used, which in preliminary experiments gave a weaker signaland allowed to better detect differences in NKG2D expression. 1C: MFI ofNKG2D expression in expanded NK cells from 6 donors transduced witheither a NKG2D-CD3zeta or a NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta □construct. 1D: Flowcytometry dot plots illustrate expression of NKG2D and DAP10 detectedwith an anti-FLAG antibody in mock- and NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta—transducedNK cells. 1E: Western blot of mock- and NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zetaconstruct-transduced NK cells. Mock- and NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta constructtransduced NK cells were incubated with 0.1 μM sodium orthovanadate and0.034% H₂O₂ at 37° C. for 10 minutes before cell lysate preparationunder reducing and non-reducing conditions and Western blotting. Ananti-human CD3zeta phospho (pY83) monoclonal antibody (clone EP776(2)Y;Epitomics, Burlingame, Calif.) followed by a goat anti-rabbit IgGhorseradish peroxidase-conjugated second antibody was used to detectendogenous and chimeric phospho-CD3zeta□proteins.

FIGS. 2A-2D: Expression of NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta receptors increases tumorcell killing by NK activated NK cells. 2A: Percent cytotoxicity of mock-and NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta-transduced NK cells against leukemia cell lines(CEM-C7, MOLT-4, Jurkat, REH, and OP-1), and solid tumor-derived celllines (U-2 OS, MG-36, HOS, DU 145, PC-3, LNCaP, RH18, RH30, TE32, RH36,SKNSH, TC71, Km12L4, SNU1, SW900, HepG2 and MCF7). A total of 65experiments were performed using NK cells expanded from 14 donors at anE:T of 1:1 or 1:2; cell killing was measured after 4 hours of co-culture4. 2B: Flow cytometric dot plots illustrate the assay used to measurecell killing. Results with one leukemia cell lines (REH, top row) andone osteosarcoma cell line (U-2 OS, bottom row) are shown. Tumor cellswere either cultured alone (left panels), with mock-transduced NK cells(middle panels), or with NK cells transduced with theNKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta receptor. Residual viable target cells are in thebottom right region of each panel. 2C: Percent cytotoxicity of mock- andNKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta-transduced NK cells against selected tumor celllines. 2D: Percent cytotoxicity of mock- andNKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta-transduced NK cells from 3 donors againstnon-transformed peripheral blood mononucleated cells (PBMC) andbone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC); P>0.05.

FIGS. 3A-3D: Relation between NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta ligation and increasedcytotoxicity. 3A: Relation between expression of NKG2D ligands (NKG2DL)as measured by mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) after staining cellswith human recombinant NKG2D/Ig Fc reagent and increase in cytotoxicityby NK cells expressing the NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta receptor as compared tomock-transduced NK cells. The median value of 43% was used to dividecell lines into 2 groups; P>0.05. 3B: Pre-incubation of NK cells with aninhibitory anti-NKG2D antibody (clone 149810; R&D) abrogated the gainsin cytotoxicity produced by the expression of NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta in NKcells. Mock- and NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta-transduced NK cells were incubatedwith anti-NKG2D, anti-CD56 or an isotype-matched non-reactive antibodyfor 10 minutes; 4-hour cytotoxicity against the U-2 OS cell line at 1:1ratio was tested. Bars represent mean (±SD) of triplicate measurements.3C: Incubation of NK cells with a biotin-conjugated anti-NKG2D agonisticantibody (clone 1D11; eBioscience) and anti-biotin beads (MACSiBeads;Miltenyi Biotec) induced degranulation, which was significantly higherin NK cells expressing NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta. Percentage of CD56+ cellsfrom 6 donors expressing CD107a after 4 hours of anti-NKG2D stimulationis shown. 3D: Flow cytometric dot plots illustrating CD107a expressionon mock- or NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta-transduced CD56+ cells.

FIGS. 4A-4C: Cellular consequences of NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta signaling. 4A:Mock- and NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta-transduced NK cells were incubated with abiotin-conjugated anti-NKG2D agonistic antibody (clone 1D11;eBioscience) and anti-biotin beads (MACSiBeads; Miltenyi Biotec) for 1hour and cell lysates were analyzed by Kinex Antibody Microarray(Kinexus, Vancouver, Calif.). Of 809 anti-phosphorprotein antibodiestested, shown are those whose signals had a Z-ratio ≥1 and a % ErrorRange ≤50. Bars indicate percent signal change in NK cells expressingNKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta as compared to the normalized intensity inmock-transduced NK cells. 4B: Mock- and NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta-transducedNK cells from 3 donors were incubated with a biotin-conjugatedanti-NKG2D agonistic antibody (clone 1D11; eBioscience) and anti-biotinbeads (MACSiBeads; Miltenyi Biotec). Concentration of IFNγ and GM-CSF inthe supernatants collected 4, 8 and 16 hours after initiation ofstimulation was measured by Luminex (Merck Millipore). Data of theremaining cytokines/chemokines measured are presented in FIG. 7 andTable 1. 4C: Degranulation in mock- and NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta-transducedNK cells after continuous stimulation with anti-NKG2D. NK cells wereincubated with anti-NKG2D and beads as described in A. After 4, 24 and48 hours, expression of CD107a in CD56+ cells was measured by flowcytometry. Results from experiments with NK cells from 2 donors areshown.

FIG. 5: Anti-tumor capacity of NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta-transduced NK cellsin a xenograft model of osteosarcoma. Luciferase-labeled U-2 OS cells(2×10⁵) were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) in 12 immunodeficient(NOD/scid-IL2Rgnull) mice. Control mice (“No NK”; n=4) received notreatment (top row); the remaining 8 mice received a single i.p.injection of either mock-transduced (“Mock,” middle row) orNKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta-transduced 3×10⁶ NK cells (“NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta,”bottom row), followed by four daily IL-2 i.p. injection.Photoluminescence signals were measured at weekly intervals with aXenogen IVIS-200 system (Caliper Life Sciences, with imaging beginning 5minutes after i.p. injection of an aqueous solution of D-luciferinpotassium salt (3 mg/mouse). Right graph shows means (±SD) measurementsof photons/second quantified using the Living Image 3.0 software program(analyzed by 2-way ANOVA).

FIGS. 6A-6B: Expression of NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta by electroporation. 6A:Flow cytometric analysis of NKG2D expression in activated CD56+ CD3-NKcells 24 hours after electroporation with NKG2D-CD3zeta and DAP10 mRNA(NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta□ or no mRNA (“mock”). 6B: Killing of U2-OS cellsafter 4-hour co-culture with NK cells electroporated with NKG2D-CD3zetaand DAP10 mRNA or mock-electroporated at the indicated E:T ratios. Eachsymbol corresponds to mean (±SD) of 3 co-cultures; P value at each E:Tratio by t test is shown.

FIG. 7: Cytokine/chemokine secretion of mock- andNKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta-transduced NK cells from 3 donors after incubationwith a biotin-conjugated anti-NKG2D agonistic antibody (clone 1D11;eBioscience) and anti-biotin beads (MACSiBeads; Miltenyi Biotec) (seealso FIG. 4 and Table 1).

5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to compositions and methods for use of a chimericreceptor complex with NKG2D specificity in cell therapy for treatingcancer and infectious disease. The chimeric receptor complex, hereincalled “NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta,” comprises an extracellular ligand-bindingdomain comprising a Natural Killer Group 2 member D receptor (NKG2D),(b) DNAX-activating protein 10 (DAP10), and (c) a CD3zeta signalingdomain. The present invention provides compositions comprisingpolynucleotides for expressing NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta, vectors and isolatedand/or recombinant cells comprising such polynucleotides, and methodsfor the use of NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta cell therapy for the treatment ofcancer and infectious diseases.

Described below are compositions and methods relating to immunotherapyagainst cancer, as well as infectious diseases. In particular, Sections5.1, 5.2, 5.3, and 5.4 describe polypeptides, polynucleotides, vectors,genetically engineered cells, and pharmaceutical compositionsrespectively, which may be used in accordance with the invention, andmethods for their isolation, preparation, and/or generation. Section 5.5describes therapeutic methods for using the polypeptides,polynucleotides, vectors, and genetically engineered cells to protectagainst, ameliorate, and/or treat cancer and infectious disease. Targetcancers and infectious diseases that may be to protect against,ameliorate, and/or treat cancer and infectious disease using thecompositions and methods of the invention are described in Sections5.5.1 and 5.5.2.

Terminology

In describing and claiming the invention, the following terms should beunderstood as follows.

As used herein, unless otherwise specified, the terms “protein(s)” and“polypeptide(s)” interchangeably refer to a chain of amino acids linkedtogether by peptide bonds. In some embodiments, the terms “protein(s)”and “polypeptide(s)” refer to a macromolecule which comprises aminoacids that are linked together by peptide bonds.

The term “chimeric receptor” as used herein refers to a cell-surfacereceptor comprising at least two polypeptide domains not naturally foundtogether on a single protein. For example, the NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zetachimeric receptor described herein comprises an NKG2D extracellularligand binding domain and a CD3zeta cytoplasmic signaling domain, whichare not found together on a single protein. The chimeric receptors ofthe present invention are intended primarily for use with NK cells and Tcells.

The term “chimeric receptor complex” as used herein refers to a firstpolypeptide, which may comprise at least two polypeptide domains in acombination that are not naturally found together on a single protein,which first polypeptide is associated with a second polypeptide, forexample, an adaptor polypeptide, a signaling molecule, or a stimulatorymolecule. The NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta chimeric receptor complex describedherein comprises a first polypeptide comprising an NKG2D receptorextracellular ligand-binding domain and a CD3zeta signaling domain, andsecond polypeptide comprising a DAP10 stimulatory molecule. The chimericreceptor complexes of the present invention are intended primarily foruse with NK cells and T cells.

A “stimulatory molecule” refers to a molecule other than a receptor or areceptor ligand which is contributes to signal transduction.

As used herein, the terms “nucleic acid,” “nucleotide,” and“polynucleotide” include deoxyribonucleotides, deoxyribonucleic acids,ribonucleotides, and ribonucleic acids, and polymeric forms thereof, andincludes either single- or double-stranded forms. Nucleic acids includenaturally occurring nucleic acids, such as deoxyribonucleic acid (“DNA”)and ribonucleic acid (“RNA”) as well as nucleic acid analogs. Nucleicacid analogs include those which include non-naturally occurring bases,nucleotides that engage in linkages with other nucleotides other thanthe naturally occurring phosphodiester bond or which include basesattached through linkages other than phosphodiester bonds. Thus, nucleicacid analogs include, for example and without limitation,phosphorothioates, phosphorodithioates, phosphorotriesters,phosphoramidates, boranophosphates, methylphosphonates, chiral-methylphosphonates, 2-O-methyl ribonucleotides, peptide-nucleic acids (PNAs),locked-nucleic acids (LNAs), and the like.

An “isolated” nucleic acid sequence, polynucleotide or nucleotidesequence is one which is separated from other nucleic acid moleculeswhich are present in a natural source of the nucleic acid sequence,polynucleotide or nucleotide sequence. Moreover, an “isolated” nucleicacid sequence, polynucleotide or nucleotide sequence, such as a cDNAmolecule, can be substantially free of other cellular material orculture medium when produced by recombinant techniques, or substantiallyfree of chemical precursors when chemically synthesized. In certainembodiments, an “isolated” nucleic acid sequence, polynucleotide ornucleotide sequence is a nucleic acid sequence, polynucleotide ornucleotide sequence that is recombinantly expressed in a cell.

The terms “express” and “expression” mean allowing or causing theinformation in a gene or polynucleotide sequence to become manifest, forexample producing a protein by activating the cellular functionsinvolved in transcription and translation of a corresponding gene or DNAsequence. The expression product itself, e.g. the resulting protein, mayalso be said to be “expressed” by the cell. An expression product may becharacterized as intracellular, extracellular or transmembrane. The term“intracellular” means inside a cell. The term “extracellular” meansoutside a cell. The term “transmembrane” means at least a portion of apolypeptide is embedded in a cell membrane. The term “cytoplasmic” meansresiding within the cell membrane, outside the nucleus.

The term “internal ribosome entry site” or “IRES,” as used herein,refers to a nucleotide sequence that allows for translation initiationin the middle of a messenger RNA (mRNA) sequence as part of the greaterprocess of protein synthesis.

The term “operably linked to,” in the context of a regulatory nucleicacid sequence being “operably linked” to a heterologous nucleic acidsequence, means that the regulatory nucleic acid sequence is placed intoa functional relationship with the heterologous nucleic acid sequence.In the context of an IRES, “operably linked to” refers to a functionallinkage between a nucleic acid sequence containing an internal ribosomeentry site and a heterologous coding sequence initiation in the middleof an mRNA sequence resulting in translation of the heterologous codingsequence.

The term “vector” means a vehicle by which a DNA or RNA sequence (e.g. aforeign gene) can be introduced into a genetically engineered cell, soas to transform the genetically engineered cell and promote expression(e.g. transcription and/or translation) of the introduced sequence.Vectors include viruses, plasmids, phages, etc.

The term “transduction” means the introduction of a foreign nucleic acidinto a cell using a viral vector.

The term “isolated cell” means any cell of any organism that is removedfrom its natural environment. The term “isolated host cell” means anycell of any organism that is removed from its natural environment andselected, modified, transformed, grown, used or manipulated in any way,for the production of a substance by the cell, for example theexpression by the cell of a gene, a DNA or RNA sequence, a protein or anenzyme. A “genetically engineered cell” means any cell of any organismthat is modified, transformed, or manipulated by addition ormodification of a gene, a DNA or RNA sequence, or protein orpolypeptide. Isolated cells, host cells, and genetically engineeredcells of the present invention include isolated immune cells, such as NKcells and T cells, that contain the DNA or RNA sequences encoding achimeric receptor or chimeric receptor complex and express the chimericreceptor on the cell surface. Isolated host cells and geneticallyengineered cells may be used, for example, for enhancing an NK cellactivity or a T lymphocyte activity, treatment of cancer, and treatmentof infectious diseases.

To “expand,” “specifically expand” or “preferentially expand” NK cellsmeans to culture a mixed population of cells that contains a smallnumber of NK cells so that the NK cells proliferate to numbers greaterthan other cell types in the population.

To “activate” Natural killer (“NK”) cells and T cells means to induce achange in their biologic state by which the cells express activationmarkers, produce cytokines, proliferate and/or become cytotoxic totarget cells. All these changes can be produced by primary stimulatorysignals. Co-stimulatory signals amplify the magnitude of the primarysignals and suppress cell death following initial stimulation resultingin a more durable activation state and thus a higher cytotoxic capacity.

An “autologous cell” refers to a cell which was derived from the sameindividual that is being treated by cell therapy.

A “donor cell” refers to a cell that was derived from an individualother than the individual being treated by cell therapy.

An “allogeneic cell” refers to a genetically distinct cell.

As used herein, the terms “treat,” “treating,” and “treatment” in thecontext of the administration of a therapy to a subject refer to thebeneficial effects that a subject derives from a therapy. In certainembodiments, treatment of a subject with a genetically engineeredcell(s) described herein achieves one, two, three, four, or more of thefollowing effects: (i) reduction or amelioration the severity of diseaseor symptom associated therewith; (ii) reduction in the duration of asymptom associated with a disease; (iii) protection against theprogression of a disease or symptom associated therewith; (iv)regression of a disease or symptom associated therewith; (v) protectionagainst the development or onset of a symptom associated with a disease;(vi) protection against the recurrence of a symptom associated with adisease; (vii) reduction in the hospitalization of a subject; (viii)reduction in the hospitalization length; (ix) an increase in thesurvival of a subject with a disease; (x) a reduction in the number ofsymptoms associated with a disease; (xi) an enhancement, improvement,supplementation, complementation, or augmentation of the prophylactic ortherapeutic effect(s) of another therapy.

As used herein, term “protecting against” in the context ofadministering a therapy to a subject refers to the prophylactic effectthat a subject receives from a therapy. In a specific embodiment, thisterm refers to the inhibition of the development or onset of a diseaseor a symptom associated therewith, or inhibition of the recurrence of adisease or a symptom thereof.

As used herein, the terms “manage,” “managing,” and “management,” in thecontext of the administration of a therapy to a subject, refer to thebeneficial effects that a subject derives from a therapy, which does notresult in a cure of a disease. In certain embodiments, a subject isadministered one or more therapies to “manage” a disease or disorder soas to prevent the progression or worsening of symptoms associated with adisease.

As used herein, the term “in combination” refers to the use of more thanone therapies (e.g., one or more prophylactic and/or therapeuticagents). The use of the term “in combination” does not restrict theorder in which therapies are administered to a subject with a disease ordisorder, or the route of administration. A first therapy (e.g., aprophylactic or therapeutic agent) can be administered prior to (e.g., 5minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 6hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, 96 hours, 1 week, 2weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 5 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks, or 12 weeks before),concomitantly with, or subsequent to (e.g., 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 30minutes, 45 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, 24hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, 96 hours, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks,5 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks, or 12 weeks after) the administration of asecond therapy (e.g., a prophylactic or therapeutic agent) to a subjectwith a disease or disorder or a symptom thereof.

As used herein, the terms “subject” and “patient” are usedinterchangeably and refer to an animal. In a specific embodiment, suchterms refer to a mammal such as a non-primate (e.g., cows, pigs, horses,cats, dogs, rats etc.) and a primate (e.g., monkey and human), mostpreferably a human.

As used herein, the term “premature human infant” refers to a humaninfant born at less than 37 weeks of gestational age.

As used herein, the term “human adult” refers to a human that is 18years or older.

As used herein, the term “human child” refers to a human that is 1 yearto 18 years old.

As used herein, the term “human infant” refers to a newborn to 1 yearold human.

As used herein, the term “elderly human” refers to a human 65 years orolder.

As used herein, the terms “disease” and “disorder” are usedinterchangeably to refer to a condition, in particular, a pathologicalcondition.

As used herein, the term “significant,” as in “significant” amount,change or effect, for example, means that the amount, change, or effectproduced would not be likely to have occurred by random chance, asdetermined by any standard method for statistical analysis, such as a Ptest, wherein a P value less than the critical alpha level indicatesthat an event would be unlikely. Thus, a “significant” change in thecontext of this invention indicates the P value is less than thecritical alpha level, and that the probability is small that the changehappened by chance.

As used herein, the term “effective amount” in the context of theadministration of a therapy to a subject refers to the amount of atherapy that achieves a desired prophylactic or therapeutic effect.Examples of effective amounts are provided in Section 5.6.2, infra.

All terms used herein, unless otherwise defined, will be given theirordinary technical or scientific meaning as would be commonly understoodby one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the presentinvention.

5.1 the Chimeric Receptor Complex

The chimeric receptor complex described herein comprises anextracellular receptor domain and one or more stimulatory molecules.Stimulation via the chimeric receptor complex enhances cytotoxicity andanti-tumor capacity against target cells, promotes signal transduction,triggers secretion of cytokines and/or chemokines, increases target cellapoptosis, and sustains cytotoxicity against target cells. As such, itis useful for treatment, protection against, and/or amelioration ofcancer and infectious diseases.

The extracellular receptor domain may be derived from any one of thewide variety of well known receptors or secreted proteins associatedwith ligand binding and/or signal transduction. The receptor may be partof a protein which is monomeric, homodimeric, heterodimeric, orassociated with a larger number of proteins in a non-covalent complex.In one embodiment, the receptor domain comprises an extracellularligand-binding domain. In one embodiment, the extracellular domaincomprises an NK cell-activating receptor. In a preferred embodiment, theextracellular domain will comprise the NK cell-activating Natural killerGroup 2 member D (NKG2D) receptor.

The stimulatory molecule refers to a transmembrane stimulatory moleculeand/or a cytoplasmic domain of a signaling protein. The stimulatorymolecule may be a transmembrane protein, an adaptor protein, or aprotein that recruits downstream signaling effector molecules. In oneembodiment, a stimulatory molecule of the chimeric receptor complex maycomprise a DNAX-activating protein 10 (DAP10) transmembrane protein. Inanother embodiment, the stimulatory molecule stabilizes the surfacemembrane expression of NKG2D. The cytoplasmic domain of the chimericreceptor complex comprises a signaling domain of a stimulatory protein.In particular, the cytoplasmic domain may comprise the CD3 zetasignaling domain by itself, or combined with any other desiredcytoplasmic or other domain(s) useful in the context of this chimericreceptor complex. The extracellular ligand-binding domain, thecytoplasmic signaling domain, and transmembrane stimulatory molecule maybe derived from any desired source for such domains and stimulatorymolecules.

As used herein and unless otherwise specified, the term “NKG2D” and“Natural killer Group 2 member D” both refer to either a native NKG2D, aNKG2D derivative, or both. As used herein and unless otherwisespecified, the term “CD3 zeta” refers to a native CD3 zeta, a CD3 zetaderivative, or both.

As used herein and unless otherwise specified, the term “DNAX-activatingprotein 10” and “DAP10” both refer to either a native DAP10, a DAP10derivative, or both.

The term “native” in the context of proteins or polypeptides refer toany naturally occurring amino acid sequences, including immature orprecursor and mature forms.

As used herein, the terms “derivative” in the context of proteins orpolypeptides refer to: (a) a polypeptide that is at least 40%, 45%, 50%,55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% identical to anative polypeptide; (b) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid sequencethat is at least 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%,95%, 98% or 99% identical a nucleic acid sequence encoding a nativepolypeptide; (c) a polypeptide that contains 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 or more amino acid mutations(i.e., additions, deletions and/or substitutions) relative to a nativepolypeptide; (d) a polypeptide encoded by nucleic acids can hybridizeunder high, moderate or typical stringency hybridization conditions tonucleic acids encoding a native polypeptide; (e) a polypeptide encodedby a nucleic acid sequence that can hybridize under high, moderate ortypical stringency hybridization conditions to a nucleic acid sequenceencoding a fragment of a native polypeptide of at least 20 contiguousamino acids, at least 30 contiguous amino acids, at least 40 contiguousamino acids, at least 50 contiguous amino acids, at least 75 contiguousamino acids, at least 100 contiguous amino acids, at least 125contiguous amino acids, or at least 150 contiguous amino acids; or (f) afragment of a native polypeptide. Derivatives also include a polypeptidethat comprises the amino acid sequence of a naturally occurring matureform of a mammalian polypeptide and a heterologous signal peptide aminoacid sequence. In one embodiment, a derivative is isolated or purified.In specific embodiments, a derivative retains one or more functions ofthe native polypeptide from which it was derived. In a particularembodiment, an NKG2D derivative retains the ability to bind to a ligandof NKG2D and trigger signaling like the native NKG2D. In anotherembodiment, a CD3 zeta derivative retains the ability to triggersignaling like the native CD3 zeta. In another embodiment, a DAP10derivative retains the ability to stabilize the surface membraneexpression of NKG2D and trigger signaling like the native DAP10.

Percent identity can be determined using any method known to one ofskill in the art. In a specific embodiment, the percent identity isdetermined using the “Best Fit” or “Gap” program of the SequenceAnalysis Software Package (Version 10; Genetics Computer Group, Inc.,University of Wisconsin Biotechnology Center, Madison, Wis.).Information regarding hybridization conditions (e.g., high, moderate,and typical stringency conditions) have been described, see, e.g., U.S.Patent Application Publication No. US 2005/0048549 (e.g., paragraphs72-73).

5.2 Polynucleotides Encoding Chimeric Receptor Complex

In a preferred embodiment, the invention encompasses a polynucleotideencoding the NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta chimeric receptor complex, whichcomprises a nucleotide sequence encoding a CD3 zeta signaling domain(SEQ ID NO: 9), a nucleotide sequence encoding an extracellularligand-binding domain comprising a NKG2D receptor (SEQ ID NO: 11), anucleotide sequence comprising an internal ribosome entry site (IRES),and a nucleotide sequence encoding a DAP10 (SEQ ID NO: 13). Thesignaling domain of CD3 zeta and the extracellular ligand-binding domaincomprising the NKG2D are expressed as a chimeric receptor protein. TheIRES nucleotide sequence is placed upstream of the nucleotide sequenceencoding DAP10 to drive translation of the DAP10 protein (SEQ ID NO:14), which is expressed as a separate transmembrane stimulatorymolecule.

The invention includes nucleotide sequences of fragments, variants(e.g., modified forms), derivatives, or functional equivalents of CD3zeta, NKG2D and/or DAP10 proteins that retain the ability to enhancecytotoxicity and antitumor capacity against target cells, promote signaltransduction, trigger secretion of cytokines and/or chemokines, increasetarget cell apoptosis, and sustain cytotoxicity against target cells. A“form of the protein” is intended to mean a protein that shares asignificant homology with the proteins or antigen of interest and iscapable of enhancing the cytotoxicity and antitumor activity againsttarget cells. A “functionally equivalent” is understood within the scopeof the present invention to refer to a nucleotide or polynucleotidewhich substantially shares at least one major functional property withthe nucleotides or polynucleotides mentioned above. As such, thesenucleotides are useful for treatment, protection against, and/oramelioration of cancer and infectious diseases.

Nucleic acid sequences encoding native CD3 zeta, NKG2D and DAP10 areknown in the art and have been described in the literature. For example,the nucleic acid sequences encoding native CD3 zeta, NKG2D and DAP10 canbe found in publicly available publications and databases, e.g.,National Center for Biotechnology Information website atncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Cloning techniques well known in the art can be usedto generate nucleic acids encoding DAP10. See, e.g., Ausubel et al.,Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley and Sons, Inc.(1995); Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual (2ded.), Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989); Birrenet al., Genome Analysis: A Laboratory Manual, volumes 1 through 4, ColdSpring Harbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1997-1999).

In specific embodiments, a polynucleotide encoding CD3 zeta comprises:(a) a nucleic acid sequence that is at least 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%,65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% identical to the naturallyoccurring nucleic acid sequence encoding a native CD3 zeta polypeptide;(b) a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide that is at least 40%,45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99%identical the amino acid sequence of a native CD3 zeta polypeptide; (c)a nucleic acid sequence that contains 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 or more nucleic acid base mutations(e.g., additions, deletions and/or substitutions) relative to thenaturally occurring nucleic acid sequence encoding a native CD3 zetapolypeptide; (d) a nucleic acid sequence that hybridizes under high,moderate or typical stringency hybridization conditions to a naturallyoccurring nucleic acid sequence encoding a native CD3 zeta polypeptide;(e) a nucleic acid sequence that hybridizes under high, moderate ortypical stringency hybridization conditions to a fragment of a naturallyoccurring nucleic acid sequence encoding a native CD3 zeta polypeptide;and (f) a nucleic acid sequence encoding a fragment of a naturallyoccurring nucleic acid sequence encoding a native CD3 zeta polypeptide.In another specific embodiment, the polynucleotide is an isolated orpurified polynucleotide.

In specific embodiments, a polynucleotide encoding NKG2D comprises: (a)a nucleic acid sequence that is at least 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%,70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% identical to the naturallyoccurring nucleic acid sequence encoding a native NKG2D polypeptide; (b)a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide that is at least 40%,45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99%identical the amino acid sequence of a native NKG2D polypeptide; (c) anucleic acid sequence that contains 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 or more nucleic acid base mutations(e.g., additions, deletions and/or substitutions) relative to thenaturally occurring nucleic acid sequence encoding a native NKG2Dpolypeptide; (d) a nucleic acid sequence that hybridizes under high,moderate or typical stringency hybridization conditions to a naturallyoccurring nucleic acid sequence encoding a native NKG2D polypeptide; (e)a nucleic acid sequence that hybridizes under high, moderate or typicalstringency hybridization conditions to a fragment of a naturallyoccurring nucleic acid sequence encoding a native NKG2D polypeptide; and(f) a nucleic acid sequence encoding a fragment of a naturally occurringnucleic acid sequence encoding a native NKG2D polypeptide. In anotherspecific embodiment, the polynucleotide is an isolated or purifiedpolynucleotide.

In specific embodiments, a polynucleotide encoding DAP10 comprises: (a)a nucleic acid sequence that is at least 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%,70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% identical to the naturallyoccurring nucleic acid sequence encoding a native DAP10 polypeptide; (b)a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide that is at least 40%,45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99%identical the amino acid sequence of a native DAP10 polypeptide; (c) anucleic acid sequence that contains 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 or more nucleic acid base mutations(e.g., additions, deletions and/or substitutions) relative to thenaturally occurring nucleic acid sequence encoding a native DAP10polypeptide; (d) a nucleic acid sequence that hybridizes under high,moderate or typical stringency hybridization conditions to a naturallyoccurring nucleic acid sequence encoding a native DAP10 polypeptide; (e)a nucleic acid sequence that hybridizes under high, moderate or typicalstringency hybridization conditions to a fragment of a naturallyoccurring nucleic acid sequence encoding a native DAP10 polypeptide; and(f) a nucleic acid sequence encoding a fragment of a naturally occurringnucleic acid sequence encoding a native DAP10 polypeptide. In anotherspecific embodiment, the polynucleotide is an isolated or purifiedpolynucleotide.

In a specific embodiment, a nucleic acid sequence encoding a CD3 zetapolypeptide is a derivative of a naturally occurring nucleic acidsequence encoding a native human CD3 zeta polypeptide. In anotherembodiment, a nucleic acid sequence encoding a CD3 zeta polypeptide is aderivative of a naturally occurring nucleic acid sequence encoding animmature or precursor form of a native human CD3 zeta polypeptide. Inanother embodiment, a nucleic acid sequence encoding a CD3 zetapolypeptide is a derivative of a naturally occurring nucleic acidsequence encoding a mature form of a native human CD3 zeta polypeptide.In another embodiment, a nucleic acid sequence encodes a CD3 zetaderivative described herein.

In a specific embodiment, a nucleic acid sequence encoding a NKG2Dpolypeptide is a derivative of a naturally occurring nucleic acidsequence encoding a native human NKG2D polypeptide. In anotherembodiment, a nucleic acid sequence encoding a NKG2D polypeptide is aderivative of a naturally occurring nucleic acid sequence encoding animmature or precursor form of a native human NKG2D polypeptide. Inanother embodiment, a nucleic acid sequence encoding a NKG2D polypeptideis a derivative of a naturally occurring nucleic acid sequence encodinga mature form of a native human NKG2D polypeptide. In anotherembodiment, a nucleic acid sequence encodes a NKG2D derivative describedherein.

In a specific embodiment, a nucleic acid sequence encoding a DAP10polypeptide is a derivative of a naturally occurring nucleic acidsequence encoding a native human DAP10 polypeptide. In anotherembodiment, a nucleic acid sequence encoding a DAP10 polypeptide is aderivative of a naturally occurring nucleic acid sequence encoding animmature or precursor form of a native human DAP10 polypeptide. Inanother embodiment, a nucleic acid sequence encoding a DAP10 polypeptideis a derivative of a naturally occurring nucleic acid sequence encodinga mature form of a native human DAP10 polypeptide. In anotherembodiment, a nucleic acid sequence encodes a DAP10 derivative describedherein.

In certain embodiments, polynucleotides include codon-optimized nucleicacid sequences that encode native CD3 zeta polypeptides, NKG2Dpolypeptides, or DAP10 polypeptides, including mature and immatureforms. In other embodiments, polynucleotides include nucleic acids thatencode CD3 zeta, NKG2D, or DAP10 RNA transcripts containing mutationsthat eliminate potential splice sites and instability elements (e.g.,A/T or A/U rich elements) without affecting the amino acid sequence toincrease the stability of the CD3 zeta RNA transcripts.

In certain embodiments, nucleic acid sequences encode a NKG2Dpolypeptide that retains at least 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%,60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99%, or in the range ofbetween 25% to 50%, 25% to 75%, 25% to 98%, 50% to 75%, or 75% to 100%of a function of a native NKG2D polypeptide, such as enhancingcytotoxicity and anti-tumor capacity against target cells, promotingsignal transduction, increasing cytokine and/or chemokine secretion,increasing target cell apoptosis, or sustaining cytotoxicity againsttarget cells, for example, as measured by assays well known in the art.

In certain embodiments, nucleic acid sequences encode a CD3 zetapolypeptide that retains at least 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%,60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99%, or in the range ofbetween 25% to 50%, 25% to 75%, 25% to 98%, 50% to 75%, or 75% to 100%of a function of a native CD3 zeta polypeptide, such as enhancingcytotoxicity and anti-tumor capacity against target cells, promotingsignal transduction, increasing cytokine and/or chemokine secretion,increasing target cell apoptosis, or sustaining cytotoxicity againsttarget cells, for example, as measured by assays well known in the art.

In certain embodiments, nucleic acid sequences encode a DAP10polypeptide that retains at least 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%,60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99%, or in the range ofbetween 25% to 50%, 25% to 75%, 25% to 98%, 50% to 75%, or 75% to 100%of a function of a native DAP10 polypeptide, such as enhancingcytotoxicity and anti-tumor capacity against target cells, promotingsignal transduction, increasing cytokine and/or chemokine secretion,increasing target cell apoptosis, sustaining cytotoxicity against targetcells, or stabilizing the surface membrane expression of NKG2D, forexample, as measured by assays well known in the art.

In some embodiments, nucleic acid sequences encode a NKG2D polypeptidethat retains at least 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%,75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99%, or in the range of between 25% to50%, 25% to 75%, 25% to 98%, 50% to 75%, or 75% to 100% of the abilityto activate or induce one or more of the signal transduction pathwaysinduced when a native ligand of NKG2D (NKG2DL) binds to a native NKG2Dpolypeptide, as measured by assays well-known in the art. Non-limitingexamples of ligands of human NKG2D include MICA, MICB, ULBP1, ULBP2,ULBP3, ULBP4, ULBP5 and ULBP6 and others that are well known in the art.The one or more signal transduction pathways induced by binding of aNKG2DL to NKG2D can be measured by, e.g., assessing the activation of asignal transduction moiety (e.g., the phosphorylation of CREB1, TBK1,ACK1, Tyk2, CdC25c, PRK2, MEKK2, EGFR, CDK4, Tyk2, Abl, Ksr1, MLK3,CD1K, MAPKAPK2, JAK2, c-IAP1, MST1, Calnexin, PKA R2a, PKA Cb, JNK3,Hsp90ab, ILK1, PDGFRa/b, PDGFRb, IRAK2, p107, PKCd, Paxillin 1, PI4KCB,PKCb1, STAT2, PKCb1/2, PKCb2, or p35+p25), and chemokineproduction/secretion and cytokine production/secretion (e.g., GM-CSF,IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-13, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, Rantes, TNF-α, Eotaxin, FGF-2,Flt-3L, Fractalkine, GRO, IFN-α2, IL-1rα, IL-5, IL-8, MCP-1, PDGF-AA,TNF-β, VEGF, sCD40L, CCL5, EGF, G-CSF, IL-10, IL-12p40, IL-12p70, IL-15,IL-17, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-3, IL-4, IL-6, IL-7, IL-9, IP-10, MCP-3, MDC, orPDGF-BB) using techniques such as antibody microarray, ELISAs, Westernblots, electromobility shift assays, and other immunoassays. In aspecific embodiment, nucleic acid sequences encode a NKG2D polypeptidethat retains at least 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%,75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99%, or in the range of between 25% to50%, 25% to 75%, 25% to 98%, 50% to 75%, or 75% to 100% of the abilityto activate or induce one or more of the signal transduction pathwaysinduced by binding of a native NKG2DL to NKG2D.

In some embodiments, nucleic acid sequences encode a DAP10 polypeptidethat retains at least 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%,75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99%, or in the range of between 25% to50%, 25% to 75%, 25% to 98%, 50% to 75%, or 75% to 100% of the abilityto stabilize the surface membrane expression of NKG2D and activate orinduce one or more of the signal transduction pathways induced when anative ligand of NKG2D (NKG2DL) binds to a native NKG2D polypeptide, asmeasured by assays well-known in the art. Non-limiting exemplary ligandsof human NKG2D include MICA, MICB, ULBP1, ULBP2, ULBP3, ULBP4, ULBP5 andULBP6 and others that are well known in the art. The one or more signaltransduction pathways induced by binding of a NKG2DL to NKG2D can bemeasured by, e.g., assessing the activation of a signal transductionmoiety (e.g., the phosphorylation of CREB1, TBK1, ACK1, Tyk2, CdC25c,PRK2, MEKK2, EGFR, CDK4, Tyk2, Abl, Ksr1, MLK3, CD1K, MAPKAPK2, JAK2,c-IAP1, MST1, Calnexin, PKA R2a, PKA Cb, JNK3, Hsp90ab, ILK1, PDGFRa/b,PDGFRb, IRAK2, p107, PKCd, Paxillin 1, PI4KCB, PKCb1, STAT2, PKCb1/2,PKCb2, or p35+p25), and chemokine production/secretion and cytokineproduction/secretion (e.g., GM-CSF, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-13, MIP-1α, MIP-1β,Rantes, TNF-α, Eotaxin, FGF-2, Flt-3L, Fractalkine, GRO, IFN-α2, IL-1rα,IL-5, IL-8, MCP-1, PDGF-AA, TNF-β, VEGF, sCD40L, CCL5, EGF, G-CSF,IL-10, IL-12p40, IL-12p70, IL-15, IL-17, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-3, IL-4, IL-6,IL-7, IL-9, IP-10, MCP-3, MDC, or PDGF-BB) using techniques such asantibody microarray, ELISAs, Western blots, electromobility shiftassays, and other immunoassays. In a specific embodiment, nucleic acidsequences encode a DAP10 polypeptide that retains at least 25%, 30%,35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or99%, or in the range of between 25% to 50%, 25% to 75%, 25% to 98%, 50%to 75%, or 75% to 100% of the ability to activate or induce one or moreof the signal transduction pathways induced by binding of a nativeNKG2DL to NKG2D.

In some embodiments, nucleic acid sequences encode a CD3 zetapolypeptide that retains at least 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%,60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99%, or in the range ofbetween 25% to 50%, 25% to 75%, 25% to 98%, 50% to 75%, or 75% to 100%of the ability to activate or induce one or more of the signaltransduction pathways induced when a native ligand of NKG2D (NKG2DL)binds to a native NKG2D polypeptide, as measured by assays well-known inthe art. Non-limiting exemplary ligands of human NKG2D include MICA,MICB, ULBP1, ULBP2, ULBP3, ULBP4, ULBP5 and ULBP6 and others that arewell known in the art. The one or more signal transduction pathwaysinduced by binding of a NKG2DL to NKG2D can be measured by, e.g.,assessing the activation of a signal transduction moiety (e.g., thephosphorylation of CREB1, TBK1, ACK1, Tyk2, CdC25c, PRK2, MEKK2, EGFR,CDK4, Tyk2, Abl, Ksr1, MLK3, CD1K, MAPKAPK2, JAK2, c-IAP1, MST1,Calnexin, PKA R2a, PKA Cb, JNK3, Hsp90ab, ILK1, PDGFRa/b, PDGFRb, IRAK2,p107, PKCd, Paxillin 1, PI4KCB, PKCb1, STAT2, PKCb1/2, PKCb2, orp35+p25), and chemokine production/secretion and cytokineproduction/secretion (e.g., GM-CSF, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-13, MIP-1α, MIP-1β,Rantes, TNF-α, Eotaxin, FGF-2, Flt-3L, Fractalkine, GRO, IFN-α2, IL-1rα,IL-5, IL-8, MCP-1, PDGF-AA, TNF-β, VEGF, sCD40L, CCL5, EGF, G-CSF,IL-10, IL-12p40, IL-12p70, IL-15, IL-17, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-3, IL-4, IL-6,IL-7, IL-9, IP-10, MCP-3, MDC, or PDGF-BB) using techniques such asantibody microarray, ELISAs, Western blots, electromobility shiftassays, and other immunoassays. In a specific embodiment, nucleic acidsequences encode a CD3 zeta polypeptide that retains at least 25%, 30%,35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or99%, or in the range of between 25% to 50%, 25% to 75%, 25% to 98%, 50%to 75%, or 75% to 100% of the ability to activate or induce one or moreof the signal transduction pathways induced by binding of a nativeNKG2DL to NKG2D.

In certain embodiments, nucleic acid sequences encode an NKG2Dextracellular domain polypeptide that has a higher affinity for a nativeligand of NKG2D than a native NKG2D extracellular domain polypeptide forthe same ligand, as measured by assays/techniques well known in the art,e.g., ELISA, Biacore, or co-immunoprecipitation. In a specificembodiment, nucleic acid sequences encode an NKG2D extracellular domainpolypeptide that binds to a native ligand of NKG2D with 0.5 logs, 1 log,1.5 logs, 2 logs, 2.5 logs, or 3 logs higher affinity than a nativeNKG2D extracellular domain polypeptide binds to the same receptor, asmeasured by assays/techniques well known in the art, e.g., ELISA,Biacore, or co-immunoprecipitation.

5.3 Constructs and Recombinant Expression

5.3.1 Vectors

The polynucleotides encoding a chimeric receptor complex describedherein can be inserted into a vector for expression in mammalian cells.

A vector may comprise one or more regulatory sequences, selected on thebasis of the cells to be used for expression, which is operably linkedto the polynucleotide to be expressed. Regulatory sequences includepromoters, enhancers and other expression control elements (e.g.,polyadenylation signals). In a specific embodiment, a vector maycomprise one or more transcriptional regulatory element(s) operablylinked to the coding sequence of a protein. The transcriptionalregulatory elements are typically 5′ to the coding sequence and directthe transcription of the polynucleotide encoding a chimeric receptorcomplex described herein. In some embodiments, one or more of thetranscriptional regulatory elements that are found in nature to regulatethe transcription of the NKG2D, CD3 zeta, or DAP10 are used to controltranscription. In other embodiments, one or more transcriptionalregulatory elements that are heterologous to the NKG2D, CD3 zeta orDAP10 are used to control transcription. Any transcriptional regulatoryelement(s) known to one of skill in the art may be used. Non-limitingexamples of the types of transcriptional regulatory element(s) include aconstitutive promoter, a tissue-specific promoter, and an induciblepromoter. In a specific embodiment, transcription is controlled, atleast in part, by a mammalian (in some embodiments, human)transcriptional regulatory element(s). In a specific embodiment,transcription is controlled, at least in part, by a strong promoter,e.g., CMV.

Specific examples of promoters which may be used to controltranscription include, but are not limited to, the SV40 early promoterregion (Bernoist & Chambon, 1981, Nature 290:304-310), the promotercontained in the 3′ long terminal repeat of Rous sarcoma virus (Yamamotoet al., 1980, Cell 22:787-797), the herpes thymidine kinase promoter(Wagner et al., 1981, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 78:1441-1445), theregulatory sequences of the metallothionein gene (Brinster et al., 1982,Nature 296:39-42); adenovirus (ADV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), bovinepapilloma virus (BPV), parovirus B19p6 promoter, prokaryotic expressionvectors such as the beta-lactamase promoter (Villa-Kamaroff et al.,1978, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 75:3727-3731), or the tac promoter(DeBoer et al., 1983, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80:21-25); see also“Useful proteins from recombinant bacteria” in Scientific American,1980, 242:74-94; plant expression vectors comprising the nopalinesynthetase promoter region (Herrera-Estrella et al., Nature 303:209-213)or the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S RNA promoter (Gardner, et al., 1981,Nucl. Acids Res. 9:2871), and the promoter of the photosynthetic enzymeribulose biphosphate carboxylase (Herrera-Estrella et al., 1984, Nature310:115-120); promoter elements from yeast or other fungi such as theGal 4 promoter, the ADC (alcohol dehydrogenase) promoter, PGK(phosphoglycerol kinase) promoter, alkaline phosphatase promoter, andthe following animal transcriptional control regions, which exhibittissue specificity and have been utilized in transgenic animals:elastase I gene control region which is active in pancreatic acinarcells (Swift et al., 1984, Cell 38:639-646; Ornitz et al., 1986, ColdSpring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol. 50:399-409; MacDonald, 1987, Hepatology7:425-515); insulin gene control region which is active in pancreaticbeta cells (Hanahan, 1985, Nature 315:115-122), immunoglobulin genecontrol region which is active in lymphoid cells (Grosschedl et al.,1984, Cell 38:647-658; Adames et al., 1985, Nature 318:533-538;Alexander et al., 1987, Mol. Cell. Biol. 7:1436-1444), mouse mammarytumor virus control region which is active in testicular, breast,lymphoid and mast cells (Leder et al., 1986, Cell 45:485-495), albumingene control region which is active in liver (Pinkert et al., 1987,Genes and Devel. 1:268-276), alpha-fetoprotein gene control region whichis active in liver (Krumlauf et al., 1985, Mol. Cell. Biol. 5:1639-1648;Hammer et al., 1987, Science 235:53-58; alpha 1-antitrypsin gene controlregion which is active in the liver (Kelsey et al., 1987, Genes andDevel. 1:161-171), beta-globin gene control region which is active inmyeloid cells (Mogram et al., 1985, Nature 315:338-340; Kollias et al.,1986, Cell 46:89-94; myelin basic protein gene control region which isactive in oligodendrocyte cells in the brain (Readhead et al., 1987,Cell 48:703-712); myosin light chain-2 gene control region which isactive in skeletal muscle (Sani, 1985, Nature 314:283-286), andgonadotropic releasing hormone gene control region which is active inthe hypothalamus (Mason et al., 1986, Science 234:1372-1378). In otheraspects, an inducible promoter can be used.

A vector also may comprise one or more post-transcriptional regulatoryelement(s) operably linked to the coding sequence of a protein. Thepost-transcriptional regulatory elements can be 5′ and/or 3′ to thecoding sequence and direct the post-transcriptional regulation of thetranslation of RNA transcripts encoding a protein.

The vector chosen will depend upon a variety of factors, including,without limitation, the strength of the transcriptional regulatoryelements and the cell to be used to express a protein. The vector can bea plasmid, phagemid, cosmid, viral vector, phage, artificial chromosome,and the like. In one aspect, the vectors can be episomal,non-homologously, or homologously integrating vectors, which can beintroduced into the appropriate cells by any suitable means(transformation, transfection, conjugation, protoplast fusion,electroporation, calcium phosphate-precipitation, direct microinjection,etc.) to transform them.

In a preferred embodiment, the vector is a viral vector, e.g.,retroviruses, lentiviruses, vaccinia virus, adenovirus, etc.).Non-limiting examples of other cell-vector systems that may be used toexpress a protein include mammalian cell systems infected with virus andstable cell lines generated by transformation using a selectable marker.In some embodiments, a vector includes a selectable marker geneincluding, but not limited to, neo, gpt, dhfr, ada, pac, hyg, CAD andhisD. In a specific preferred embodiment, the viral vector is the vectorpMSCV described infra, or is a vector similar to pMSCV. The vector canbe a plasmid or a stable integration vector for transient or stableexpression of a protein in cells. For stable expression, the vector canmediate chromosomal integration at a target site or a random chromosomalsite.

A vector or plasmid comprising a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotidesequence encoding a chimeric receptor complex described herein may betransduced or transfected into NK cells or T cells in culture andreadministered or re-introduced in vivo into a patient. In certainaspects, a vector comprising a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotidesequence encoding a chimeric receptor complex described herein isadministered to a mammal for recombinant expression of a protein invivo. In other aspects, cells transfected with a vector are transplantedor implanted in a subject.

In another embodiment, a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequenceencoding a chimeric receptor complex described herein may be introducedinto NK or T cells by electroporation and re-introduced in vivo into apatient. Electroporation methods are well known in the art. Any methodfor electroporation method that permits rapid expression of the chimericreceptor complex in a large number of cells is described herein. In apreferred embodiment, electroporation of mRNA will result in highlyefficient expression of the functional chimeric receptor complex inexpanded cells. In another preferred embodiment, one or more mRNAsencoding the component of the chimeric receptor complex described hereinis electroporated into expanded cells for expression of the chimericreceptor or the chimeric receptor complex in vivo. In another preferredembodiment, electroporation results in increase of expression of thechimeric receptor or the chimeric receptor complex in vivo. In anotherembodiment, cells electroporated with mRNA encoding the components ofthe chimeric receptor markedly enhances cytotoxicity and anti-tumorcapacity against target cells. In yet another preferred embodiment, thismethod is adapted to a clinical-grade protocol for genetic engineeringof large numbers of cells to treat a wide range of cancers andinfectious diseases.

Techniques for practicing aspects of this invention will employ, unlessotherwise indicated, conventional techniques of molecular biology,microbiology, and recombinant DNA manipulation and production, which areroutinely practiced by one of skill in the art. See, e.g., Sambrook,1989, Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual, Second Edition; DNACloning, Volumes I and II (Glover, Ed. 1985); Oligonucleotide Synthesis(Gait, Ed. 1984); Nucleic Acid Hybridization (Hames & Higgins, Eds.1984); Transcription and Translation (Hames & Higgins, Eds. 1984);Animal Cell Culture (Freshney, Ed. 1986); Immobilized Cells and Enzymes(IRL Press, 1986); Perbal, A Practical Guide to Molecular Cloning(1984); Gene Transfer Vectors for Mammalian Cells (Miller & Calos, Eds.1987, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory); Methods in Enzymology, Volumes 154and 155 (Wu & Grossman, and Wu, Eds., respectively), (Mayer & Walker,Eds., 1987); Immunochemical Methods in Cell and Molecular Biology(Academic Press, London, Scopes, 1987), Expression of Proteins inMammalian Cells Using Vaccinia Viral Vectors in Current Protocols inMolecular Biology, Volume 2 (Ausubel et al., Eds., 1991).

5.3.2 Genetically Engineered Cells

Cells can be engineered to express the chimeric receptor complex encodedby the polynucleotides or a vector described herein. Non-limitingexamples of cells that can be used to express the chimeric receptorcomplex encoded by the polynucleotides or vectors described hereininclude mammalian cells, primary cells, and immortalized cells. In oneembodiment, the cells are mammalian lymphocytes (in a particularembodiment, human lymphocytes). In a specific embodiment, the cells aremammalian NK cells or T cells, particularly CD8 T cells (both αβ andγδ). In another specific embodiment, the cells are human NK cells and/orhuman T cells. In another embodiment, the cells are cells derived from asubject. The cells may be autologous to the individual being treated, orallogenic cells. In one embodiment the cells are cells derived from adonor. In another embodiment, the cells are derived from the patientbeing treated. In another embodiment, the cells are NK cells and/or Tcells derived from a subject that have been activated. In anotherembodiment, the cells are NK cells and/or T cells derived from a subjectthat have been activated and expanded.

NK cells and T cells may be activated and expanded prior to, or after,genetic modification of the NK cells or T cells to express a chimericreceptor complex. Techniques for activating as well as expanding the Tcells are well known in the art and generally available. See, e.g., themethods described in the Examples, infra, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,435,596and U.S. Pat. No. 8,026,097, which are incorporated herein by reference,for techniques for activating and expanding NK cells. Alternate methodsinclude, but are not limited to, those found in U.S. Pat. Nos.8,257,970; 7,572,631; 7,175,843; 7,232, 566; 7,172,869; 7,144,575;7,172,869; 7,067,318; 6,905,680; 6,905,681; 6,905,874; 6,887,466;6,867,041; 6,797,514; 6,692,964; 6,534,055; 6,352,694; 5,883,223; and5,858,358, for example.

In a specific embodiment, reference to a cell transfected with apolynucleotide includes the particular subject cell transfected with thepolynucleotide and the progeny or potential progeny of such a cell.Progeny of such a cell may not be identical to the parent celltransfected with the polynucleotide due to mutations or environmentalinfluences that may occur in succeeding generations or integration ofthe polynucleotide into the cell genome.

In some embodiments, isolated cells are utilized herein. In a specificembodiment, the isolated cells are at least 80%, 90%, 95% or 98% free ofa different cell type as measured by a technique known to one of skillin the art, such as flow cytometry. In other words, at least 80%, 90%,95% or 98% of the isolated cells are of the same cell type.

Any techniques known to one of skill in the art can be used to transfector transduce cells with nucleic acids including, e.g., transformation,transfection, conjugation, protoplast fusion, electroporation, calciumphosphate-precipitation, direct microinjection, and infection withviruses, including but not limited to adenoviruses, lentiviruses, andretroviruses. In one embodiment, the cells are transiently transfectedwith a polynucleotide described herein. In another embodiment, the cellsare stably transfected with a polynucleotide described herein.

In certain embodiments, cells engineered to express a chimeric receptorcomplex described herein are introduced, re-introduced, administered, orimplanted or transplanted into a subject to treat or manage or protectagainst a disease.

5.4 Pharmaceutical Compositions

Presented herein are compositions comprising a polynucleotide encoding achimeric receptor complex of the invention. Also presented herein arecompositions comprising cells (in particular, NK cells and/or T cells)comprising a polynucleotide encoding a chimeric receptor complex of theinvention. In one embodiment, the compositions comprise an effectiveamount of a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding achimeric receptor complex described herein, and a pharmaceuticallyacceptable carrier. In specific embodiments, a pharmaceuticalcomposition comprises an amount of a polynucleotide comprising anucleotide sequence encoding a chimeric receptor complex describedherein that is effective to achieve the desired effect. In anotherembodiment, the compositions comprise an effective amount of cells (inparticular, NK cells and/or T cells) comprising a polynucleotidecomprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a chimeric receptor complexdescribed herein, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In specificembodiments, a pharmaceutical composition comprises an amount of cells(in particular, NK cells and/or T cells) comprising a polynucleotidecomprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a chimeric receptor complexdescribed herein that is effective to achieve the desired effect.

In a specific embodiment, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable” meansapproved by a regulatory agency of the Federal or a state government orlisted in the U.S. Pharmacopeia or other generally recognizedpharmacopeia for use in animals, and more particularly in humans. Theterm “carrier” refers to a diluent, excipient, or vehicle with which thegenetically engineered cell(s) is administered. Such pharmaceuticalcarriers can be sterile liquids, such as saline solutions.

Pharmaceutical compositions for use in accordance with the methodsdescribed herein may be formulated in any conventional manner using oneor more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients.

In some embodiments, cells (in particular, NK cells and/or T cells)comprising a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding achimeric receptor complex described herein may be formulated foradministration by any method known to one of skill in the art, includingbut not limited to, intradermal, parenteral, transdermal,intraparenteral, intratumoral, and administration.

In a specific embodiment, cells (in particular, NK cells and/or T cells)comprising a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding achimeric receptor complex described herein are formulated for local orsystemic parenteral administration.

The cells (in particular, NK cells and/or T cells) comprising apolynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a chimericreceptor complex described herein can be formulated for parenteraladministration by injection, e.g., by bolus injection or continuousinfusion.

In addition, cells (in particular, NK cells and/or T cells) comprising apolynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a chimericreceptor complex described herein may also be formulated forimplantation (for example subcutaneously or intramuscularly) or byintramuscular injection.

5.5 Therapeutic Methods

In one aspect, presented herein are methods for enhancing cytoxicity,anti-tumor, or cytokine/chemokine secretion in a subject, comprisingadministering to a subject in need thereof a cell genetically engineeredfor expression of the chimeric antigen receptor complex, or acomposition thereof. In a specific embodiment, presented herein aremethods for treating, protecting against and/or managing diseases inwhich it is desirable to activate or enhance one or more immunefunctions or responses, comprising administering to a subject in needthereof a cell genetically engineered for expression of the chimericantigen receptor complex, or a composition thereof. In certainembodiments, the genetically engineered cells described herein that areadministered to the subject are autologous cells. In other embodiments,the genetically engineered cells described herein that are administeredto the subject are donor cells.

Non-limiting examples of diseases that can be treated, protectedagainst, or managed by an enhancement of immune function include, butare not limited to, cancer and infectious diseases. Various cancers andinfectious diseases are described below.

In a specific embodiment, a genetically engineered cell described hereinor a composition thereof activates or enhances or induces one or moreimmune functions or responses in a subject by at least 99%, at least95%, at least 90%, at least 85%, at least 80%, at least 75%, at least70%, at least 60%, at least 50%, at least 45%, at least 40%, at least45%, at least 35%, at least 30%, at least 25%, at least 20%, or at least10%, or in the range of between 10% to 25%, 25% to 50%, 50% to 75%, or75% to 95% relative to the immune function in a subject not administeredthe genetically cell(s) described herein or a composition thereof usingassays well known in the art, e.g., ELISPOT, ELISA, and cellproliferation assays. In a specific embodiment, the immune function iscytokine release (e.g., interferon-gamma, IL-2, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12, ortransforming growth factor (TGF)—beta). In one embodiment, the immunefunction is NK cell proliferation, which can be assayed, e.g., by flowcytometry to detect the number of cells expressing markers of NK cells(e.g., CD56). In one embodiment, the immune function is T cellproliferation, which can be assayed, e.g., by flow cytometry to detectthe number of cells expressing markers of T cells (e.g., CD3, CD4, orCD8). In another embodiment, the immune function is antibody production,which can be assayed, e.g., by ELISA. In some embodiments, the immunefunction is an effector function which can be assayed, e.g., by acytotoxicity assay or other assays well known in the art. In oneembodiment, the immune function does not exhibit a significant increasein cytotoxicity against normal cells (e.g., non-transformed peripheralblood lymphocytes, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cells, uninfectedcells, or non-tumor cells), e. g., the increase in cytotoxicity in thepatient against normal cells (non-tumor or uninfected cells) could beaccountable by chance, as determined by a standard statistical analysismethod.

5.5.1 Methods for Treating, Protecting Against, and Managing Cancer

In a specific aspect, presented herein are methods for treating,protecting against, and/or managing cancer, comprising administering toa subject in need thereof an effective amount of a geneticallyengineered cell(s) described herein or a composition thereof. In aspecific embodiment, a genetically engineered cell(s) described hereinor a composition thereof is the only active agent administered to asubject. In certain embodiments, the genetically engineered cellsdescribed herein that are administered to the subject are autologouscells. In other embodiments, the genetically engineered cells describedherein that are administered to the subject are donor cells.

The effect of a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein onproliferation of cancer cells can be detected by routine assays, such asby assays that measure the uptake of radiolabeled thymidine.Alternatively, cell viability can be measured by assays that measurelactate dehydrogenase (LDH), a stable cytosolic enzyme that is releasedupon cell lysis, or by the release of [⁵¹Cr] upon cell lysis. In oneembodiment, necrosis measured by the ability or inability of a cell totake up a dye such as neutral red, trypan blue, or ALAMAR™ blue (Page etal., 1993, Intl. J. of Oncology 3:473 476). In such an assay, the cellsare incubated in media containing the dye, the cells are washed, and theremaining dye, reflecting cellular uptake of the dye, is measuredspectrophotometrically.

In another embodiment, the dye is sulforhodamine B (SRB), whose bindingto proteins can be used as a measure of cytotoxicity (Skehan et al.,1990, J. Nat'l Cancer Inst. 82:1107 12). In yet another embodiment, atetrazolium salt, such as MTT, is used in a quantitative colorimetricassay for mammalian cell survival and proliferation by detecting living,but not dead, cells (see, e.g., Mosmann, 1983, J. Immunol. Methods 65:5563).

In other embodiments, apoptotic cells are measured in both the attachedand “floating” compartments of the cultures. Both compartments arecollected by removing the supernatant, trypsinizing the attached cells,and combining both preparations following a centrifugation wash step (10minutes, 2000 rpm). The protocol for treating tumor cell cultures withsulindac and related compounds to obtain a significant amount ofapoptosis has been described in the literature (see, e.g., Piazza etal., 1995, Cancer Research 55:3110 16). Features of this method includecollecting both floating and attached cells, identification of theoptimal treatment times and dose range for observing apoptosis, andidentification of optimal cell culture conditions.

In another embodiment, apoptosis is quantitated by measuring DNAfragmentation. Commercial photometric methods for the quantitative invitro determination of DNA fragmentation are available. Examples of suchassays, including TUNEL (which detects incorporation of labelednucleotides in fragmented DNA) and ELISA-based assays, are described inBiochemica, 1999, no. 2, pp. 34 37 (Roche Molecular Biochemicals). Inyet another embodiment, apoptosis can be observed morphologically.

Cancer cell lines on which such assays can be performed are well knownto those of skill in the art. Apoptosis, necrosis and proliferationassays can also be performed on primary cells, e.g., a tissue explant.

In a specific embodiment, the proliferation or viability of cancer cellscontacted with a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein or acomposition comprising a genetically engineered cell(s) described hereinis inhibited or reduced by at least 2 fold, preferably at least 2.5fold, at least 3 fold, at least 4 fold, at least 5 fold, at least 7fold, or at least 10 fold relative to the proliferation of the cancercells when contacted with a negative control as measured using assayswell known in the art, e.g., cell proliferation assays using CSFE, BrdU,and ³H-Thymidine incorporation. In another embodiment, the proliferationof cancer cells contacted with a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein is inhibited or reduced by at least 25%, at least 30%,at least 35%, at least 40%, at least 45%, at least 50%, at least 55%, atleast 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, atleast 85%, at least 90%, or at least 95% relative to cancer cellscontacted with a negative control as measured using assays well known inthe art, e.g., cell proliferation assays using CSFE, BrdU, and³H-Thymidine incorporation, or those assays described above.

In specific embodiments, the administration of a genetically engineeredcell(s) described herein or a composition thereof to a subject withcancer (in some embodiments, an animal model for cancer) achieves atleast one, two, three, four or more of the following effects: (i) thereduction or amelioration of the severity of one or more symptoms ofcancer; (ii) the reduction in the duration of one or more symptomsassociated with cancer; (iii) the protection against the recurrence of asymptom associated with cancer; (iv) the reduction in hospitalization ofa subject; (v) a reduction in hospitalization length; (vi) the increasein the survival of a subject; (vii) the enhancement or improvement ofthe therapeutic effect of another therapy; (viii) an increase in thesurvival rate of patients; (xiii) a decrease in hospitalization rate;(ix) the protection against the development or onset of one or moresymptoms associated with cancer; (x) the reduction in the number ofsymptoms associated with cancer; (xi) an increase in symptom-freesurvival of cancer patients; (xii) improvement in quality of life asassessed by methods well known in the art; (xiii) the protection againstthe recurrence of a tumor; (xiv) the regression of tumors and/or one ormore symptoms associated therewith; (xvii) the inhibition of theprogression of tumors and/or one or more symptoms associated therewith;(xviii) a reduction in the growth of a tumor; (xix) a decrease in tumorsize (e.g., volume or diameter); (xx) a reduction in the formation of anewly formed tumor; (xxi) eradication, removal, or control of primary,regional and/or metastatic tumors; (xxii) a decrease in the number orsize of metastases; (xxiii) a reduction in mortality; (xxiv) an increasein the tumor-free survival rate of patients; (xxv) an increase inrelapse free survival; (xxvi) an increase in the number of patients inremission; (xxvii) the size of the tumor is maintained and does notincrease or increases by less than the increase of a tumor afteradministration of a standard therapy as measured by conventional methodsavailable to one of skill in the art, such as magnetic resonance imaging(MRI), dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI), X-ray, and computedtomography (CT) scan, or a positron emission tomography (PET) scan;and/or (xxviii) an increase in the length of remission in patients.

In a specific embodiment, the administration of a genetically engineeredcell(s) described herein or a composition thereof to a subject withcancer (in some embodiments, an animal model for cancer) inhibits orreduces the growth of a tumor by at least 2 fold, preferably at least2.5 fold, at least 3 fold, at least 4 fold, at least 5 fold, at least 7fold, or at least 10 fold relative to the growth of a tumor in a subjectwith cancer (in some embodiments, in the same animal model for cancer)administered a negative control as measured using assays well known inthe art. In another embodiment, the administration of a geneticallyengineered cell(s) described herein or a composition comprising agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein to a subject with cancer(in some embodiments, an animal model for cancer) inhibits or reducesthe growth of a tumor by at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, atleast 40%, at least 45%, at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, atleast 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, atleast 90%, or at least 95% relative to the growth of a tumor in asubject with cancer (in some embodiments, in the same animal model forcancer) administered a negative control as measured using assays wellknown in the art.

In a specific embodiment, the administration of a genetically engineeredcell(s) described herein or a composition comprising a geneticallyengineered cell(s) described herein to a subject with cancer (in someembodiments, an animal model for cancer) reduces the size of a tumor byat least 2 fold, preferably at least 2.5 fold, at least 3 fold, at least4 fold, at least 5 fold, at least 7 fold, or at least 10 fold relativeto the growth of a tumor in a subject with cancer (in some embodiments,the same animal model for cancer) administered a negative control asmeasured using assays well known in the art. In another embodiment, theadministration of a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein or acomposition comprising a genetically engineered cell(s) described hereinto a subject with (in some embodiments, an animal model for cancer)reduces the size of a tumor by at least 10%, at least 25%, at least 30%,at least 35%, at least 40%, at least 45%, at least 50%, at least 55%, atleast 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, atleast 85%, at least 90%, or at least 95%, or 10% to 25%, 25% to 50%, 25%to 75%, 50% to 75%, 75% to 100% relative to the growth of a tumor in asubject with cancer (in some embodiments, the same animal model forcancer) administered a negative control as measured using assays wellknown in the art.

In some embodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s) described hereinis administered to a subject in combination with one or more othertherapies, e.g., anti-cancer agents, cytokines, cellular vaccines oranti-hormonal agents, to treat and/or manage cancer. In one embodiment,the combination of a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein andone or more other therapies provides an additive therapeutic effectrelative to the therapeutic effects of the genetically engineeredcell(s) described herein alone or the one or more other therapies alone.In one embodiment, the combination of a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein and one or more other therapies provides more than anadditive therapeutic effect relative to the therapeutic effects of thegenetically engineered cell(s) described herein alone or the one or moreother therapies alone. In one embodiment, the combination of agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein and one or more othertherapies provides a synergistic therapeutic effect relative to thetherapeutic effects of the genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein alone or the one or more other therapies alone.

In a specific embodiment, a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein is administered in combination with radiation therapy comprising,e.g., the use of x-rays, gamma rays and other sources of radiation todestroy the cancer cells. In specific embodiments, the radiationtreatment is administered as external beam radiation or teletherapywherein the radiation is directed from a remote source. In otherembodiments, the radiation treatment is administered as internal therapyor brachytherapy wherein a radioactive source is placed inside the bodyclose to cancer cells or a tumor mass. In one aspect, the geneticallyengineered cell(s) described herein can activate or enhance the immunefunction of cancer patient with a compromised immune system due toanti-cancer therapy. In another embodiment, a genetically engineeredcell(s) described herein is administered in combination withchemotherapy. In an embodiment, a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein can be used before, during or after radiation therapyor chemotherapy. In another embodiment, a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein can be used before, during or after surgery.

5.5.1.1 Types of Cancers

Cancers and related disorders that can be treated, protected against, ormanaged in accordance with the methods described herein include, but arenot limited to, the following: Leukemias including, but not limited to,acute leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, acute myelocytic Leukemiassuch as myeloblastic, promyelocytic, myelomonocytic, monocytic,erythroleukemia leukemias and myelodysplastic syndrome, chronicleukemias such as but not limited to, chronic myelocytic (granulocytic)leukemia, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, hairy cell leukemia;polycythemia vera; lymphomas such as but not limited to Hodgkin'sdisease, and non-Hodgkin's disease; multiple myelomas such as but notlimited to smoldering multiple myeloma, nonsecretory myeloma,osteosclerotic myeloma, plasma cell leukemia, solitary plasmacytoma andextramedullary plasmacytoma; Waldenström's macroglobulinemia; monoclonalgammopathy of undetermined significance; benign monoclonal gammopathy;heavy chain disease; bone and connective tissue sarcomas such as but notlimited to bone sarcoma, osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma,malignant giant cell tumor, fibrosarcoma of bone, chordoma, periostealsarcoma, soft-tissue sarcomas, angiosarcoma (hemangiosarcoma),fibrosarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, liposarcoma,lymphangiosarcoma, neurilemmoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and synovial sarcoma;brain tumors including but not limited to, glioma, astrocytoma, brainstem glioma, ependymoma, oligodendroglioma, nonglial tumor, acousticneurinoma, craniopharyngioma, medulloblastoma, meningioma, pineocytoma,pineoblastoma, and primary brain lymphoma; breast cancer including, butnot limited to, adenocarcinoma, lobular (small cell) carcinoma,intraductal carcinoma, medullary breast cancer, mucinous breast cancer,tubular breast cancer, papillary breast cancer, Paget's disease, andinflammatory breast cancer; adrenal cancer, including but not limitedto, pheochromocytom and adrenocortical carcinoma; thyroid cancer such asbut not limited to papillary or follicular thyroid cancer, medullarythyroid cancer and anaplastic thyroid cancer; pancreatic cancer,including but not limited to, insulinoma, gastrinoma, glucagonoma,vipoma, somatostatin-secreting tumor, and carcinoid or islet cell tumor;pituitary cancers including but not limited to, Cushing's disease,prolactin-secreting tumor, acromegaly, and diabetes insipius; eyecancers including but not limited to, ocular melanoma such as irismelanoma, choroidal melanoma, and cilliary body melanoma, andretinoblastoma; vaginal cancers, including but not limited to, squamouscell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and melanoma; vulvar cancer, includingbut not limited to, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, adenocarcinoma,basal cell carcinoma, sarcoma, and Paget's disease; cervical cancersincluding but not limited to, squamous cell carcinoma, andadenocarcinoma; uterine cancers including but not limited to,endometrial carcinoma and uterine sarcoma; ovarian cancers including butnot limited to, ovarian epithelial carcinoma, borderline tumor, germcell tumor, and stromal tumor; esophageal cancers including but notlimited to, squamous cancer, adenocarcinoma, adenoid cyctic carcinoma,mucoepidermoid carcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma, sarcoma, melanoma,plasmacytoma, verrucous carcinoma, and oat cell (small cell) carcinoma;stomach cancers including but not limited to, adenocarcinoma, fungating(polypoid), ulcerating, superficial spreading, diffusely spreading,malignant lymphoma, liposarcoma, fibrosarcoma, and carcinosarcoma; coloncancers; rectal cancers; liver cancers including but not limited tohepatocellular carcinoma and hepatoblastoma; gallbladder cancersincluding but not limited to, adenocarcinoma; cholangiocarcinomasincluding but not limited to, pappillary, nodular, and diffuse; lungcancers including but not limited to, non-small cell lung cancer,squamous cell carcinoma (epidermoid carcinoma), adenocarcinoma,large-cell carcinoma and small-cell lung cancer; testicular cancersincluding but not limited to, germinal tumor, semi noma, anaplastic,spermatocytic, nonseminoma, embryonal carcinoma, teratoma carcinoma,choriocarcinoma (yolk-sac tumor); prostate cancers including but notlimited to, adenocarcinoma, leiomyosarcoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma; penalcancers; oral cancers including but not limited to, squamous cellcarcinoma; basal cancers; salivary gland cancers including but notlimited to, adenocarcinoma, mucoepidermoid carcinoma, and adenoidcysticcarcinoma; pharynx cancers including but not limited to, squamous cellcancer, and verrucous; skin cancers including but not limited to, basalcell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma, and superficialspreading melanoma, nodular melanoma, lentigo malignant melanoma, acrallentiginous melanoma; kidney cancers including but not limited to, renalcell cancer, renal cancer, adenocarcinoma, hypernephroma, fibrosarcoma,and transitional cell cancer (renal pelvis and/or uterer); Wilms' tumor;bladder cancers including but not limited to, transitional cellcarcinoma, squamous cell cancer, adenocarcinoma, and carcinosarcoma. Inaddition, cancers include myxosarcoma, osteogenic sarcoma,endotheliosarcoma, lymphangioendotheliosarcoma, mesothelioma, synovioma,hemangioblastoma, epithelial carcinoma, cystadenocarcinoma, bronchogeniccarcinoma, sweat gland carcinoma, sebaceous gland carcinoma, papillarycarcinoma and papillary adenocarcinomas (for a review of such disorders,see Fishman et al., 1985, Medicine, 2d Ed., J. B. Lippincott Co.,Philadelphia and Murphy et al., 1997, Informed Decisions: The CompleteBook of Cancer Diagnosis, Treatment, and Recovery, Viking Penguin,Penguin Books U.S.A., Inc., United States of America).

In one embodiment, the cancer is benign, e.g., polyps and benignlesions. In other embodiments, the cancer is metastatic. The geneticallyengineered cell(s) can be used in the treatment of pre-malignant as wellas malignant conditions. Pre-malignant conditions include hyperplasia,metaplasia, and dysplasia. Treatment of malignant conditions includesthe treatment of primary as well as metastatic tumors. In a specificembodiment the cancer is melanoma, colon cancer, lung cancer, breastcancer, prostate cancer, cervical cancer, brain cancer, pancreaticcancer, or renal cancer, T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), aB-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia, a lymphoblastic leukemia, a B-cellchronic lymphocytic leukemia or a B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma,rhabdomyosarcoma, neuroblastoma, Ewing sarcoma, gastric cancer,hepatoma.

5.5.1.2 Patient Populations

In some embodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein,compositions comprising a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein, or combination therapies are administered to a subject sufferingfrom or diagnosed with cancer. In other embodiments, a geneticallyengineered cell(s) described herein, compositions comprising agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein, or combinationtherapies are administered to a subject predisposed or susceptible todeveloping cancer. In some embodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein, compositions comprising a genetically engineeredcell(s) described herein, or combination therapies are administered to asubject that lives in a region where there is a high occurrence rate ofcancer. In a specific embodiment, the cancer is characterized by apre-malignant tumor or a malignant tumor.

In some embodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein,composition comprising a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein, or a combination therapy is administered to a mammal. In certainembodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein,composition comprising a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein, or a combination therapy is administered to a mammal which is 0to 6 months old, 6 to 12 months old, 1 to 5 years old, 5 to 10 yearsold, 10 to 15 years old, 15 to 20 years old, 20 to 25 years old, 25 to30 years old, 30 to 35 years old, 35 to 40 years old, 40 to 45 yearsold, 45 to 50 years old, 50 to 55 years old, 55 to 60 years old, 60 to65 years old, 65 to 70 years old, 70 to 75 years old, 75 to 80 yearsold, 80 to 85 years old, 85 to 90 years old, 90 to 95 years old or 95 to100 years old. In certain embodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein, composition comprising a genetically engineeredcell(s) described herein, or a combination therapy is administered to apet, e.g., a dog or cat. In certain embodiments, a geneticallyengineered cell(s) described herein, composition comprising agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein, or a combinationtherapy is administered to a farm animal or livestock, e.g., pig, cows,horses, chickens, etc.

In certain embodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein, composition comprising a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein, or a combination therapy is administered to a human atrisk developing cancer. In certain embodiments, a genetically engineeredcell(s) described herein, composition comprising a geneticallyengineered cell(s) described herein, or a combination therapy isadministered to a human with cancer. In certain embodiments, agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein, composition comprisinga genetically engineered cell(s) described herein, or a combinationtherapy is administered to a human diagnosed with cancer. In certainembodiments, the patient is a human 0 to 6 months old, 6 to 12 monthsold, 1 to 5 years old, 5 to 10 years old, 5 to 12 years old, 10 to 15years old, 15 to 20 years old, 13 to 19 years old, 20 to 25 years old,25 to 30 years old, 20 to 65 years old, 30 to 35 years old, 35 to 40years old, 40 to 45 years old, 45 to 50 years old, 50 to 55 years old,55 to 60 years old, 60 to 65 years old, 65 to 70 years old, 70 to 75years old, 75 to 80 years old, 80 to 85 years old, 85 to 90 years old,90 to 95 years old or 95 to 100 years old. In some embodiments, agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein, composition comprisinga genetically engineered cell(s) described herein, or a combinationtherapy is administered to a human infant or a premature human infant.In other embodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein,composition comprising a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein, or a combination therapy is administered to a human child. Inother embodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein,composition comprising a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein, or a combination therapy is administered to a human adult. Inyet other embodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein, composition comprising a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein, or a combination therapy is administered to an elderlyhuman.

In certain embodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein, composition comprising a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein, or a combination therapy is administered to a primate,preferably a human, or another mammal, such as a pig, cow, horse, sheep,goat, dog, cat and rodent, in an immunocompromised state orimmunosuppressed state or at risk for becoming immunocompromised orimmunosuppressed. In certain embodiments, a genetically engineeredcell(s) described herein, composition comprising a geneticallyengineered cell(s) described herein, or a combination therapy isadministered to a subject receiving or recovering from immunosuppressivetherapy. In certain embodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein, composition comprising a genetically engineeredcell(s) described herein, or a combination therapy is administered to asubject that has or is at risk of getting AIDS, a viral infection, or abacterial infection. In certain embodiments, a subject that is, will orhas undergone surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.

In some embodiments, a patient is administered a genetically engineeredcell(s) described herein, composition comprising a geneticallyengineered cell(s) described herein, or a combination therapy is beforeany adverse effects or intolerance to therapies other than a geneticallyengineered cell(s) described herein develops. In some embodiments, Agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein, compositions comprisingA genetically engineered cell(s) described herein, or combinationtherapies are administered to refractory patients. In a certainembodiment, refractory patient is a patient refractory to a standardanti-cancer therapy. In certain embodiments, a patient with cancer, isrefractory to a therapy when the cancer has not significantly beeneradicated and/or the symptoms have not been significantly alleviated.The determination of whether a patient is refractory can be made eitherin vivo or in vitro by any method known in the art for assaying theeffectiveness of a treatment, using art-accepted meanings of“refractory” in such a context. In various embodiments, a patient withcancer is refractory when a cancerous tumor has not decreased or hasincreased.

In some embodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein,compositions comprising a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein, or combination therapies are administered to a patient toprotect against the onset or reoccurrence of cancer in a patient at riskof developing such cancer. In some embodiments, a genetically engineeredcell(s) described herein, compositions comprising a geneticallyengineered cell(s) described herein, or combination therapies areadministered to a patient who is susceptible to adverse reactions toconventional therapies.

In some embodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein,compositions comprising A genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein, or combination therapies are administered to a patient who hasproven refractory to therapies other than a genetically engineeredcell(s) described herein, but are no longer on these therapies. Incertain embodiments, the patients being managed or treated in accordancewith the methods described herein are patients already being treatedwith antibiotics, anti-cancer agents, or other biologicaltherapy/immunotherapy. Among these patients are refractory patients,patients who are too young for conventional therapies, and patients withreoccurring viral infections despite management or treatment withexisting therapies.

In some embodiments, the subject being administered a geneticallyengineered cell(s) described herein, compositions comprising agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein, or combinationtherapies has not received a therapy prior to the administration of thegenetically engineered cell(s) described herein, compositions comprisinga genetically engineered cell(s) described herein, or combinationtherapies. In other embodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein, compositions comprising a genetically engineeredcell(s) described herein, or combination therapies are administered to asubject who has received a therapy prior to administration of one ormore a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein, compositionscomprising a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein, orcombination therapies. In some embodiments, the subject administered agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein or a compositioncomprising a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein wasrefractory to a prior therapy or experienced adverse side effects to theprior therapy or the prior therapy was discontinued due to unacceptablelevels of toxicity to the subject.

5.5.2 Methods for Treating, Protecting Against, and Managing InfectiousDiseases

In a specific aspect, presented herein are methods for treating,protecting against, and/or managing an infectious disease, comprisingadministering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount ofgenetically engineered cells described herein or a composition thereof.In a specific embodiment, the genetically engineered cells describedherein or a composition thereof is the only active agent administered toa subject. In certain embodiments, the genetically engineered cellsdescribed herein that are administered to the subject are autologouscells. In other embodiments, the genetically engineered cells describedherein that are administered to the subject are donor cells.

In certain embodiments, administering a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein or a composition thereof to a subject (in someembodiments, an animal model) achieves one, two, three, four, or more ofthe following effects: (i) reduction or amelioration the severity of aninfectious disease or symptom associated therewith; (ii) reduction inthe duration of an infectious disease or symptom associated therewith;(iii) protection against the progression of an infectious disease orsymptom associated therewith; (iv) regression of an infectious diseaseor symptom associated therewith; (v) protection against the developmentor onset of an infectious disease or symptom associated therewith; (vi)protection against the recurrence of an infectious disease or symptomassociated therewith; (vii) reduction of or protection against thespread of an infectious agent from one cell to another cell, one tissueto another tissue, or one organ to another organ; (viii) protectionagainst or reduction of the spread/transmission of an infectious agentfrom one subject to another subject; (ix) reduction in organ failureassociated with an infectious disease; (x) reduction in thehospitalization of a subject; (xi) reduction in the hospitalizationlength; (xii) an increase in the survival of a subject with aninfectious disease; (xiii) elimination of an infectious disease; (xiii)inhibition or reduction in replication of an infectious agent; (xiv)inhibition or reduction in the entry of an infectious agent into acell(s); (xv) inhibition or reduction of replication of the genome of aninfectious agent; (xvi) inhibition or reduction in the synthesis ofinfectious agent proteins; (xvii) inhibition or reduction in theassembly of infectious agents; (xviii) inhibition or reduction in therelease of infectious agents from a cell(s); (xviii) reduction in thenumber or titer of an infectious agent; (xix) the reduction in thenumber of symptoms associated with an infectious disease (xx)enhancement, improvement, supplementation, complementation, oraugmentation of the prophylactic or therapeutic effect(s) of anothertherapy; and (xxi) protection against the onset or progression of asecondary infection associated with an infectious disease.

In certain embodiments, administering a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein or a composition comprising a genetically engineeredcell(s) described herein to a subject (in some embodiments, an animalmodel) infected with an infectious agent inhibits or reduces replicationof the infectious agent by at least 20% to 25%, preferably at least 25%to 30%, at least 30% to 35%, at least 35% to 40%, at least 40% to 45%,at least 45% to 50%, at least 50% to 55%, at least 55% to 60%, at least60% to 65%, at least 65% to 70%, at least 70% to 75%, at least 75% to80%, or up to at least 85% relative to a negative control as determinedusing an assay described herein or others known to one of skill in theart. In some embodiments, administering a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein or a composition comprising a genetically engineeredcell(s) described herein to a subject (in some embodiments, an animalmodel) infected with an infectious agent inhibits or reduces replicationof the infectious agent by at least 1.5 fold, 2 fold, 2.5 fold, 3 fold,4 fold, 5 fold, 8 fold, 10 fold, 15 fold, 20 fold, or 2 to 5 fold, 2 to10 fold, 5 to 10 fold, or 5 to 20 fold relative to a negative control asdetermined using an assay described herein or others known to one ofskill in the art. In other embodiments, administering a geneticallyengineered cell(s) described herein or a composition comprising agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein to a subject (in someembodiments, an animal model) infected with an infectious agent inhibitsor reduces replication of the infectious agent by 1 log, 1.5 logs, 2logs, 2.5 logs, 3 logs, 3.5 logs, 4 logs, 5 logs or more relative to anegative control as determined using an assay described herein or othersknown to one of skill in the art.

In certain embodiments, administering a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein or a composition comprising a genetically engineeredcell(s) described herein to a subject (in some embodiments, an animalmodel) infected with an infectious agent reduces the titer of theinfectious agent by at least 20% to 25%, preferably at least 25% to 30%,at least 30% to 35%, at least 35% to 40%, at least 40% to 45%, at least45% to 50%, at least 50% to 55%, at least 55% to 60%, at least 60% to65%, at least 65% to 70%, at least 70% to 75%, at least 75% to 80%, orup to at least 85% relative to a negative control as determined using anassay described herein or others known to one of skill in the art. Insome embodiments, administering a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein or a composition comprising a genetically engineeredcell(s) described herein to a subject (in some embodiments, an animalmodel) infected with an infectious agent reduces the titer of theinfectious agent by at least 1.5 fold, 2 fold, 2.5 fold, 3 fold, 4 fold,5 fold, 8 fold, 10 fold, 15 fold, 20 fold, or 2 to 5 fold, 2 to 10 fold,5 to 10 fold, or 5 to 20 fold relative to a negative control asdetermined using an assay described herein or others known to one ofskill in the art. In other embodiments, administering a geneticallyengineered cell(s) described herein or a composition comprising agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein to a subject (in someembodiments, an animal model) infected with an infectious agent reducesthe titer of the infectious agent by 1 log, 1.5 logs, 2 logs, 2.5 logs,3 logs, 3.5 logs, 4 logs, 5 logs or more relative to a negative controlas determined using an assay described herein or others known to one ofskill in the art.

In some embodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s) described hereinis administered to a subject in combination with one or more othertherapies. Non-limiting examples of other therapies that can be used incombination with a genetically engineered cell(s) are described herein.In one embodiment, the combination of a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein and one or more other therapies provides an additivetherapeutic effect relative to the therapeutic effects of thegenetically engineered cell(s) alone or the one or more other therapiesalone. In one embodiment, the combination of a genetically engineeredcell(s) described herein and one or more other therapies provides morethan an additive therapeutic effect relative to the therapeutic effectsof the genetically engineered cell(s) alone or the one or more othertherapies alone. In one embodiment, the combination of a geneticallyengineered cell(s) described herein and one or more other therapiesprovides a synergistic therapeutic effect relative to the therapeuticeffects of the genetically engineered cell(s) alone or the one or moreother therapies alone.

In a specific embodiment, a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein is administered to a subject in combination with one or moreantibiotics. In another embodiment, a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein is administered in combination with one or moreanti-virals. In another embodiment, a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein is administered in combination with one or moreanti-fungals.

5.5.2.1 Types of Infectious Diseases

Infectious diseases that can be treated, protected against, and/ormanaged by a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein are causedby infectious agents including, but not limited to, bacteria, fungi,protozoa, and viruses. Viral diseases that can be treated, protectedagainst and/or managed in accordance with the methods described hereininclude, but are not limited to, those caused by hepatitis type A,hepatitis type B, hepatitis type C, influenza (e.g., influenza A orinfluenza B), varicella, adenovirus, herpes simplex type I (HSV-I),herpes simplex type II (HSV-II), rinderpest, rhinovirus, echovirus,rotavirus, respiratory syncytial virus, papilloma virus, papova virus,cytomegalovirus, echinovirus, arbovirus, huntavirus, coxsackie virus,mumps virus, measles virus, rubella virus, polio virus, small pox,Epstein Barr virus, human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-I), humanimmunodeficiency virus type II (HIV-II), and agents of viral diseasessuch as viral miningitis, encephalitis, dengue or small pox.

Bacterial diseases caused by bacteria (e.g., Escherichia coli,Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecials,Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus viridans, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa)that can be treated, protected against and/or managed in accordance withthe methods described herein include, but are not limited to,mycobacteria rickettsia, mycoplasma, neisseria, S. pneumonia, Borreliaburgdorferi (Lyme disease), Bacillus antracis (anthrax), tetanus,streptococcus, staphylococcus, mycobacterium, pertissus, cholera,plague, diptheria, chlamydia, S. aureus and legionella.

Protozoan diseases caused by protozoa that can be treated, protectedagainst, and/or managed in accordance with the methods described hereininclude, but are not limited to, leishmania, kokzidioa, trypanosomaschistosoma or malaria. Parasitic diseases caused by parasites that canbe treated, protected against, and/or managed in accordance with themethods described herein include, but are not limited to, chlamydia andrickettsia.

5.5.2.2 Patient Populations

In some embodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein,compositions comprising a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein, or combination therapies are administered to a subject sufferingfrom an infectious disease caused by infectious agents including, butnot limited to bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses. In certainembodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein,compositions comprising a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein, or combination therapies are administered to a subject diagnosedas having an infectious disease caused by infectious agents including,but not limited to bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses. In otherembodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein,compositions comprising a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein, or combination therapies are administered to a subjectpredisposed or susceptible to an infectious disease. In someembodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein,compositions comprising a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein, or combination therapies are administered to a subject thatlives in a region where there has been or might be an outbreak withinfections by infectious agents. In some embodiments, the infection is alatent infection. In other embodiments, the infection by the infectiousagent is an active infection. In yet other embodiments, the infection bythe infectious agent is a chronic infection.

In some embodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein,composition comprising a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein, or a combination therapy is administered to a mammal. In certainembodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein,composition comprising a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein, or a combination therapy is administered to a mammal which is 0to 6 months old, 6 to 12 months old, 1 to 5 years old, 5 to 10 yearsold, 10 to 15 years old, 15 to 20 years old, 20 to 25 years old, 25 to30 years old, 30 to 35 years old, 35 to 40 years old, 40 to 45 yearsold, 45 to 50 years old, 50 to 55 years old, 55 to 60 years old, 60 to65 years old, 65 to 70 years old, 70 to 75 years old, 75 to 80 yearsold, 80 to 85 years old, 85 to 90 years old, 90 to 95 years old or 95 to100 years old. In certain embodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein, composition comprising a genetically engineeredcell(s) described herein, or a combination therapy is administered to apet, e.g., a dog or cat. In certain embodiments, a geneticallyengineered cell(s) described herein, composition comprising agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein, or a combinationtherapy is administered to a farm animal or livestock, e.g., pig, cows,horses, chickens, etc. In certain embodiments, a genetically engineeredcell(s) described herein, composition comprising a geneticallyengineered cell(s) described herein, or a combination therapy isadministered to a bird, e.g., ducks or chicken.

In certain embodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein, composition comprising a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein, or a combination therapy is administered to a human atrisk of an infectious disease. In certain embodiments, a geneticallyengineered cell(s) described herein, composition comprising agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein, or a combinationtherapy is administered to a human with an infectious disease. In someembodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein,composition comprising a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein, or a combination therapy is administered to a human diagnosed ashaving an infectious disease. In certain embodiments, the patient is ahuman 0 to 6 months old, 6 to 12 months old, 1 to 5 years old, 5 to 10years old, 5 to 12 years old, 10 to 15 years old, 15 to 20 years old, 13to 19 years old, 20 to 25 years old, 25 to 30 years old, 20 to 65 yearsold, 30 to 35 years old, 35 to 40 years old, 40 to 45 years old, 45 to50 years old, 50 to 55 years old, 55 to 60 years old, 60 to 65 yearsold, 65 to 70 years old, 70 to 75 years old, 75 to 80 years old, 80 to85 years old, 85 to 90 years old, 90 to 95 years old or 95 to 100 yearsold. In some embodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein, composition comprising a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein, or a combination therapy is administered to a humaninfant or premature human infant. In other embodiments, a geneticallyengineered cell(s) described herein, composition comprising agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein, or a combinationtherapy is administered to a human child. In other embodiments, agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein, composition comprisinga genetically engineered cell(s) described herein, or a combinationtherapy is administered to a human adult. In yet other embodiments, agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein, composition comprisinga genetically engineered cell(s) described herein, or a combinationtherapy is administered to an elderly human.

In certain embodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein, composition comprising a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein, or a combination therapy is administered to a primate,preferably a human, or another mammal, such as a pig, cow, horse, sheep,goat, dog, cat and rodent, in an immunocompromised state orimmune-suppressed state or at risk for becoming immunocompromised orimmunesuppressed. In certain embodiments, a genetically engineeredcell(s) described herein, composition comprising a geneticallyengineered cell(s) described herein, or a combination therapy isadministered to a subject receiving or recovering from immunosuppressivetherapy. In certain embodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein, composition comprising a genetically engineeredcell(s) described herein, or a combination therapy is administered to asubject that has or is at risk of getting cancer, AIDS, anotherinfection, or a bacterial infection. In certain embodiments, a subjectthat is, will or has undergone surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiationtherapy. In certain embodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein, composition comprising a genetically engineeredcell(s) described herein, or a combination therapy is administered to asubject that has cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, or another diseasewhich makes the subject susceptible to an infection. In certainembodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein,composition comprising a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein, or a combination therapy is administered to a subject that has,will have or had a tissue transplant. In some embodiments, a geneticallyengineered cell(s) described herein, composition comprising agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein, or a combinationtherapy is administered to a subject that lives in a nursing home, agroup home (i.e., a home for 10 or more subjects), or a prison. In someembodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein,composition comprising a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein, or a combination therapy is administered to a subject thatattends school (e.g., elementary school, middle school, junior highschool, high school or university) or daycare. In some embodiments, agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein, composition comprisinga genetically engineered cell(s) described herein, or a combinationtherapy is administered to a subject that works in the healthcare area,such as a doctor or a nurse, or in a hospital. In certain embodiments, agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein, composition comprisinga genetically engineered cell(s) described herein, or a combinationtherapy is administered to a subject that is pregnant or will becomepregnant.

In some embodiments, a patient is administered a genetically engineeredcell(s) described herein, composition comprising a geneticallyengineered cell(s) described herein, or a combination therapy before anyadverse effects or intolerance to therapies other than a geneticallyengineered cell(s) develops. In some embodiments, a geneticallyengineered cell(s) described herein, compositions comprising agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein, or combinationtherapies are administered to refractory patients. In a certainembodiment, refractory patient is a patient refractory to a standardtherapy. In certain embodiments, a patient with an infectious disease isrefractory to a therapy when the infectious disease has notsignificantly been eradicated and/or the symptoms have not beensignificantly alleviated. The determination of whether a patient isrefractory can be made either in vivo or in vitro by any method known inthe art for assaying the effectiveness of a treatment of an infectiousdisease, using art-accepted meanings of “refractory” in such a context.In various embodiments, a patient with an infection is refractory whenreplication of the infectious agent has not decreased or has increased.

In some embodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein,compositions comprising a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein, or combination therapies are administered to a patient toprotect against the onset or reoccurrence of an infectious disease in apatient at risk of developing such a disease. In some embodiments, agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein, compositions comprisinga genetically engineered cell(s) described herein, or combinationtherapies are administered to a patient who is susceptible to adversereactions to conventional therapies.

In some embodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein,compositions comprising a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein, or combination therapies are administered to a patient who hasproven refractory to therapies other than a genetically engineeredcell(s), but are no longer on these therapies. In certain embodiments,the patients being managed or treated in accordance with the methodsdescribed herein are patients already being treated with antibiotics,anti-virals, anti-fungals, or other biological therapy/immunotherapy.Among these patients are refractory patients, patients who are too youngfor conventional therapies, and patients with reoccurring viralinfections despite management or treatment with existing therapies.

In some embodiments, the subject being administered a geneticallyengineered cell(s) described herein, compositions comprising agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein, or combinationtherapies has not received a therapy prior to the administration of thegenetically engineered cell(s) described herein, compositions comprisinga genetically engineered cell(s) described herein, or combinationtherapies. In other embodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein, compositions comprising a genetically engineeredcell(s) described herein, or combination therapies are administered to asubject who has received a therapy prior to administration of agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein or compositionscomprising a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein, orcombination therapies. In some embodiments, the subject administered agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein or a compositioncomprising a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein wasrefractory to a prior therapy or experienced adverse side effects to theprior therapy or the prior therapy was discontinued due to unacceptablelevels of toxicity to the subject.

5.6 Administration and Dosage

5.6.1 Mode of Administration

A genetically engineered cell(s) described herein or composition thereofcan be administered via any route known in the art. A geneticallyengineered cell(s) described herein or compositions thereof can beadministered by, for example, infusion or bolus injection, and may beadministered together with another biologically active agent.Administration can be systemic or local. Various delivery systems areknown, e.g., encapsulation in liposomes, microparticles, microcapsules,capsules, and can be used to deliver a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein or compositions thereof and pharmaceutically acceptablesalts thereof.

Methods of administration include but, are not limited to, parenteral,intradermal, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intravenous, subcutaneous,intracerebral, or intratumorally. The mode of administration is left tothe discretion of the practitioner.

In specific embodiments, it may be desirable to administer a geneticallyengineered cell(s) or composition thereof locally. This may be achieved,for example, and not by way of limitation, by local infusion or by meansof an implant, said implant being of a porous or gelatinous material,including membranes, such as sialastic membranes, or fibers.

In another embodiment, a genetically engineered cell(s) is delivered ina vesicle, in particular a liposome (See Langer, 1990, Science 249:15271533; Treat et al., in Liposomes in the Therapy of Infectious Diseaseand Bacterial infection, Lopez-Berestein and Fidler (eds.), Liss, NewYork, pp. 353 365 (1989); Lopez Berestein, ibid., pp. 317 327).

5.6.2 Dosage

The amount of a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein, or theamount of a composition comprising a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein, that will be effective in the treatment of, protectionagainst, and/or management of a disease can be determined by standardclinical techniques. In vitro or in vivo assays may optionally beemployed to help identify optimal dosage ranges. The precise dose to beemployed will also depend, e.g., on the route of administration, thetype of symptoms, and the seriousness of the symptoms, and should bedecided according to the judgment of the practitioner and each patient'sor subject's circumstances.

Doses of genetically engineered cells described herein foradministration by any route of administration can be at least 100, 200,300, 400, 500, 700, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 25,000, 50,000, or 100,000cells. In specific embodiments, the number of cells is at least 100,200, 300, 400, 500 cells. In other embodiments, the number of cells isat least 300, 400, 500, 700, 1,000 cells. In yet other specificembodiments, the number of cells is at least 700, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000cells. In some embodiments, the number of cells is at least 5,000,10,000, 25,000, 50,000, or 100,000 cells. In yet another embodiment, thenumber of cells is at least 50,000, or 100,000 cells. In otherembodiments, the number of cells is at least 1×10⁶, 5×10⁶, 1×10⁷, 5×10⁷,1×10⁸, 5×10⁸ or more cells. In specific embodiments, the number of cellsis between 1×10² to 1×10⁴, 5×10⁴ to 5×10⁶, 1×10⁵ to 1×10⁷, 1×10⁵ to5×10⁸, 1×10⁶ to 1×10⁸, or 1×10⁶ to 1×10⁷, or 1×10⁴ to 1×10⁵ cells.

In certain embodiments, a subject is administered a geneticallyengineered cell(s) described herein or composition thereof in an amounteffective to inhibit or reduce symptoms associated with a disease ordisorder by at least 20% to 25%, preferably at least 25% to 30%, atleast 30% to 35%, at least 35% to 40%, at least 40% to 45%, at least 45%to 50%, at least 50% to 55%, at least 55% to 60%, at least 60% to 65%,at least 65% to 70%, at least 70% to 75%, at least 75% to 80%, or up toat least 85% relative to a negative control as determined using an assaydescribed herein or others known to one of skill in the art. In certainembodiments to treat, a subject is administered a genetically engineeredcell(s) described herein or a composition thereof in an amount effectiveto inhibit or reduce symptoms associated with a disease or disorder byat least 1.5 fold, 2 fold, 2.5 fold, 3 fold, 4 fold, 5 fold, 8 fold, 10fold, 15 fold, 20 fold, or 2 to 5 fold, 2 to 10 fold, 5 to 10 fold, or 5to 20 fold relative to a negative control as determined using an assaydescribed herein or other known to one of skill in the art.

In certain embodiments to treat or manage an infectious disease, asubject is administered a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein or composition thereof in an amount effective to inhibit orreduce replication of an infectious agent by at least 20% to 25%,preferably at least 25% to 30%, at least 30% to 35%, at least 35% to40%, at least 40% to 45%, at least 45% to 50%, at least 50% to 55%, atleast 55% to 60%, at least 60% to 65%, at least 65% to 70%, at least 70%to 75%, at least 75% to 80%, or up to at least 85% relative to anegative control as determined using an assay described herein or othersknown to one of skill in the art. In certain embodiments, a subject isadministered a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein orcomposition thereof in an amount effective to inhibit or reducereplication of an infectious agent by at least 1.5 fold, 2 fold, 2.5fold, 3 fold, 4 fold, 5 fold, 8 fold, 10 fold, 15 fold, 20 fold, or 2 to5 fold, 2 to 10 fold, 5 to 10 fold, or 5 to 20 fold relative to anegative control as determined using an assay described herein or othersknown to one of skill in the art. In other embodiments, a subject isadministered a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein orcomposition thereof in an amount effective to inhibit or reducereplication of an infectious agent by at least 1 log, 1.5 logs, 2 logs,2.5 logs, 3 logs, 3.5 logs, 4 logs, 5 logs or more relative to anegative control as determined using an assay described herein or othersknown to one of skill in the art.

In certain embodiments, to treat, protect against, and/or manage cancer,a subject is administered a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein or composition thereof in an amount effective to inhibit orreduce tumor growth or cancer cell proliferation by at least 20% to 25%,preferably at least 25% to 30%, at least 30% to 35%, at least 35% to40%, at least 40% to 45%, at least 45% to 50%, at least 50% to 55%, atleast 55% to 60%, at least 60% to 65%, at least 65% to 70%, at least 70%to 75%, at least 75% to 80%, or up to at least 85% relative to anegative control as determined using an assay described herein or othersknown to one of skill in the art. In some embodiments, a subject isadministered a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein orcomposition thereof in an amount effective to inhibit or reduce tumorgrowth or cancer cell proliferation by at least 1.5 fold, 2 fold, 2.5fold, 3 fold, 4 fold, 5 fold, 8 fold, 10 fold, 15 fold, 20 fold, or 2 to5 fold, 2 to 10 fold, 5 to 10 fold, or 5 to 20 fold relative to anegative control as determined using an assay described herein or othersknown to one of skill in the art.

In certain embodiments to, a subject is administered a geneticallyengineered cell(s) described herein or composition thereof in an amounteffective to induce or enhance an immune response by at least 20% to25%, preferably at least 25% to 30%, at least 30% to 35%, at least 35%to 40%, at least 40% to 45%, at least 45% to 50%, at least 50% to 55%,at least 55% to 60%, at least 60% to 65%, at least 65% to 70%, at least70% to 75%, at least 75% to 80%, or up to at least 85% relative to anegative control as determined using an assay described herein or othersknown to one of skill in the art. In some embodiments, a subject isadministered a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein orcomposition thereof in an amount effective to induce or enhance animmune response by at least 1.5 fold, 2 fold, 2.5 fold, 3 fold, 4 fold,5 fold, 8 fold, 10 fold, 15 fold, 20 fold, or 2 to 5 fold, 2 to 10 fold,5 to 10 fold, or 5 to 20 fold relative to a negative control asdetermined using an assay described herein or others known to one ofskill in the art.

In certain embodiments to, a subject is administered a geneticallyengineered cell(s) described herein or composition thereof in an amounteffective to increase or enhance the number of lymphocytes (in someembodiments, in a specific target body compartment) by at least 20% to25%, preferably at least 25% to 30%, at least 30% to 35%, at least 35%to 40%, at least 40% to 45%, at least 45% to 50%, at least 50% to 55%,at least 55% to 60%, at least 60% to 65%, at least 65% to 70%, at least70% to 75%, at least 75% to 80%, or up to at least 85% relative to anegative control as determined using an assay described herein or othersknown to one of skill in the art. In some embodiments, a subject isadministered a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein orcomposition thereof in an amount effective to increase or enhance thenumber of lymphocytes (in some embodiments, in a specific target bodycompartment) by at least 1.5 fold, at least 2 fold, at least 2.5 fold,at least 3 fold, at least 4 fold, at least 5 fold, at least 8 fold, atleast 10 fold, at least 15 fold, or at least 20 fold; or byapproximately 2 to 5 fold, 2 to 10 fold, 5 to 10 fold, or 5 to 20 foldrelative to a negative control as determined using an assay describedherein or others known to one of skill in the art. In some embodiments,the specific target body compartment where the number of lymphocytes isincreased or enhanced by a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein is the lung, stomach, heart, kidney, liver, small intestines,large intestines, breast, prostate, or bladder. In particularembodiments, the specific target body compartment where the number oflymphocytes is increased or enhanced is the body compartment affected bya disease or disorder (e.g., cancer or infectious disease). In someembodiments, the specific target body compartment where the number oflymphocytes is increased or enhanced is the lymph node, spleen, orperipheral blood.

In certain embodiments, a dose of a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein or composition thereof is administered to a subjectevery day, every other day, every couple of days, every third day, oncea week, twice a week, three times a week, or once every two weeks. Inother embodiments, two, three or four doses of a genetically engineeredcell(s) described herein or composition thereof is administered to asubject every day, every couple of days, every third day, once a week oronce every two weeks. In some embodiments, a dose(s) of a geneticallyengineered cell(s) described herein or composition thereof isadministered for 2 days, 3 days, 5 days, 7 days, 14 days, or 21 days. Incertain embodiments, a dose of a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein or composition thereof is administered for 1 month, 1.5months, 2 months, 2.5 months, 3 months, 4 months, 5 months, 6 months ormore.

The dosages of prophylactic or therapeutic agents which have been or arecurrently used for the treatment of, protection against, and/ormanagement of a disease or disorder, such as, e.g., cancer or aninfectious disease, can be determined using references available to aclinician such as, e.g., the Physicians' Desk Reference (67th ed. 2013).In a specific embodiment, dosages lower than those which have been orare currently being used to treat, protect against, and/or manage thedisease or disorder are utilized in combination with a geneticallyengineered cell(s) described herein or compositions thereof.

The above-described administration schedules are provided forillustrative purposes only and should not be considered limiting.

5.7 Biological Assays

5.7.1 Binding Assays

Binding assays can be used to determine the binding affinity of achimeric receptor complex expressed by a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein for one or more of NKG2D's ligands (e.g., MHC class Ichain-related A, MHC class I chain-related B, and UL-16-bindingproteins). Binding assays may be performed either as direct bindingassays or as competition-binding assays. Binding can be detected usingstandard ELISA or standard flow cytometry assays. In a direct bindingassay a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein is tested forbinding to NKG2D's ligands (e.g., MHC class I chain-related A, MHC classI chain-related B, and UL-16-binding proteins).

Competition-binding assays, on the other hand, assess the ability of agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein to compete with a knownagent (e.g., antibodies or other compound) that binds to an NKG2D ligand(e.g., MHC class I chain-related A, MHC class I chain-related B, or aUL-16-binding protein).

In a direct binding assay, a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein is contacted with an NKG2D ligand under conditions that allowbinding of the chimeric receptor complex expressed by the cell(s) to theligand. The binding may take place in solution or on a solid surface.The ligand may be labeled with any detectable compound may be used forlabeling, such as but not limited to, a luminescent, fluorescent, orradioactive isotope or group containing same, or a nonisotopic label,such as an enzyme or dye. After a period of incubation sufficient forbinding to take place, the reaction is exposed to conditions andmanipulations that remove excess or non-specifically bound ligand.Typically, it involves washing with an appropriate buffer. Finally, thepresence of a genetically engineered cell(s) bound to ligand isdetected.

Alternatively, a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein iscontacted with an NKG2D ligand under conditions that allow binding ofthe chimeric receptor complex expressed by the cell(s) to the ligand.The binding may take place in solution or on a solid surface. After aperiod of incubation sufficient for binding to take place, the reactionis exposed to conditions and manipulations that remove excess ornon-specifically bound ligand. Typically, it involves washing with anappropriate buffer. Then, the genetically engineered cell(s) iscontacted with an antibody specific for the ligand, and after a periodof incubation the cell(s) are washed with an appropriate buffer toremove excess or non-specifically bound antibody. Finally, the presenceof a genetically engineered cell(s) bound to ligand is detected.

Various methods described herein (e.g., in the Examples, infra) or knownin the art can be adapted to assay the binding affinity of a geneticallyengineered cell(s) for one or more NKG2D ligands.

5.7.2 Functional Assays

Various assays known in the art can be used to assess whether agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein expresses a chimericreceptor complex that triggers signal transduction. For example, agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein can be contacted with aligand of NKG2D or an antibody specific for NKG2D, and thephosphorylation of the chimeric receptor complex and/or the activationof downstream signaling molecules can be assessed by techniques known toone of skill in the art (e.g., Antibody Microarray, Western Blot,immunoprecipitation followed by Western Blot, ELISA, electromobilityshift assays). In a specific embodiment, the technique described in theExamples, infra, is used to assess whether a genetically engineeredcell(s) described herein expresses a chimeric receptor complex thattriggers signal transduction.

Various assays known in the art can be used to assess whether agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein activates or enhances animmune function. In one aspect, a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein increases an immune response that can be, e.g., anantibody response (humoral response) or a cellular immune response,e.g., cytokine secretion (e.g., interferon), chemokine secretion, helperactivity or cellular cytotoxicity. In one embodiment, the increasedimmune response is increased cytokine secretion, antibody production,effector function, T cell proliferation, and/or NK cell proliferation.Various assays to measure such activities are well known in the art, andexemplary descriptions of such assays are provided below.

Proliferation of certain immune cells may assessed by ³H-thymidineincorporation. The cytotoxicity of T cells can be tested in a⁵¹Cr-release assay as described in the art. In a specific embodiment,the cytotoxicity triggered by a genetically engineered cell(s)expressing a chimeric receptor complex is assessed using the techniquesdescribed in the Examples, infra.

An ELISPOT assay can be used to measure cytokine release in vitro by agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein. Cytokine secretionand/or chemokine secretion by a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein following contact with a ligand for NKG2D or an antibody specificfor NKG2D can be detected by antibodies which are specific for aparticular cytokine, e.g., interleukin-2, tumor necrosis factor-α orinterferon-γ, or chemokine. In a specific embodiment, a cytokine and/orchemokine secretion by a genetically engineered cell(s) can be assessedusing the techniques described in the Examples, infra.

In some aspects, the immune response induced or enhanced by agenetically engineered cell(s) is enhanced or increased by at least atleast 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 90%. 95%,98% or 99%, or in the range of between 10% to 25%, 10% to 50%, 25% to50%, 25% to 75%, 50% to 75%, 50% to 90%, 75% to 90%, 75% to 100%relative to an immune response elicited by a negative control asdetermined by any known assay in the art. In certain embodiments, theimmune response induced by a genetically engineered cell(s) is enhancedby at least 0.5-2 times, at least 2-5 times, at least 5-10 times, atleast 10-50 times, at least 50-100 times, at least 100-200 times, atleast 200-300 times, at least 300-400 times or at least 400-500 timesrelative to the immune response induced by a negative control as assayedby any known method in the art. In specific embodiments, the assay usedto assess immune response measures the level of antibody production,cytokine production or secretion, chemokine production or secretion, orcellular cytoxicity, and such assays are well known in the art. In someembodiments, the assay used to measure the immune response is anenzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that determines antibody orcytokine levels, an ELISPOT assay that determines cytokine release, or a51^(Cr) release assay that determines cellular cytotoxicity.

In another specific embodiment, presented herein are methods ofadministering a genetically engineered cell(s) to induce or enhance thelevel of cytokine production or secretion, e.g., interferon-γ, (that maybe 0.5 to 500 times higher) as compared to the level of cytokineproduction or secretion in a negative control sample. In specificembodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s) induces or enhances animmune response that is measured by increased cytokine release, and thecytokine concentration is at least 0.2 to 5 times, 5 to 20 times, 10 to30 times, 20 to 50 times, 50 to 200 times, 100 to 500, 200 to 1000times, or 500 to 2,000 times higher as compared to the cytokineconcentration of a negative control. In specific embodiments, the meanserum cytokine concentration of samples obtained from a subjectadministered a genetically engineered cell(s) is increased by at least0.5-2 times, at least 2-5 times, at least 5-10 times, at least 10-50times, at least 50-100 times, at least 100-200 times, at least 200-300times, at least 300-400 times or at least 400-500 times relative to themean serum cytokine concentration of samples obtained from a subjectadministered a negative control as determined by methods well known inthe art. In some embodiments, the negative control can be samples fromthe subject prior to administration of a genetically engineered cell(s).

In another specific embodiment, presented herein are methods ofadministering a genetically engineered cell(s) to induce or enhance thelevel of chemokine production or secretion, e.g., interferon-γ, (thatmay be 0.5 to 500 times higher) as compared to the level of chemokineproduction or secretion in a negative control sample. In specificembodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s) induces or enhances animmune response that is measured by increased chemokine release, and thechemokine concentration is at least 0.2 to 5 times, 5 to 20 times, 10 to30 times, 20 to 50 times, 50 to 200 times, 100 to 500, 200 to 1000times, or 500 to 2,000 times higher as compared to the chemokineconcentration of a negative control. In specific embodiments, the meanserum chemokine concentration of samples obtained from a subjectadministered a genetically engineered cell(s) is increased by at least0.5-2 times, at least 2-5 times, at least 5-10 times, at least 10-50times, at least 50-100 times, at least 100-200 times, at least 200-300times, at least 300-400 times or at least 400-500 times relative to themean serum chemokine concentration of samples obtained from a subjectadministered a negative control as determined by methods well known inthe art. In some embodiments, the negative control can be samples fromthe subject prior to administration of a genetically engineered cell(s).

In specific embodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein induces or enhances NK cell proliferation in a subject that by atleast 0.2 to 5 times, 5 to 20 times, 10 to 30 times, 20 to 50 times, 50to 200 times, 100 to 500, 200 to 1000 times, or 500 to 2,000 timeshigher relative to NK cell proliferation in a negative control. Inspecific embodiments, a genetically engineered cell(s) described hereininduces or enhances T cell proliferation in a subject that by at least0.2 to 5 times, 5 to 20 times, 10 to 30 times, 20 to 50 times, 50 to 200times, 100 to 500, 200 to 1000 times, or 500 to 2,000 times higherrelative to T cell proliferation in a negative control as determined bymethods well known in the art, e.g., flow cytometry, CSFE staining,³H-thymidine incorporation.

The increase in antibody (humoral) or cellular immune response inducedby an effective amount of a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein can be assessed using various methods well known in the art.

5.7.3 Cytotoxicity Assays

The toxicity and/or efficacy of the therapies described herein can bedetermined by standard pharmaceutical procedures in cell cultures orexperimental animals, e.g., for determining the LD50 (the dose lethal to50% of the population) and the ED50 (the dose therapeutically effectivein 50% of the population). The dose ratio between toxic and therapeuticeffects is the therapeutic index and it can be expressed as the ratioLD50/ED50. Therapies that exhibit large therapeutic indices arepreferred. While therapies that exhibit toxic side effects may be used,care should be taken to design a delivery system that targets suchagents to the site of affected tissue in order to minimize potentialdamage to uninfected cells and, thereby, reduce side effects.

The data obtained from the cell culture assays and animal studies can beused in formulating a range of dosage of a genetically engineeredcell(s) described herein for use in humans. The dosage of such agentslies preferably within a range of circulating concentrations thatinclude the ED50 with little or no toxicity. The dosage may vary withinthis range depending upon the dosage form employed and the route ofadministration utilized. For any therapy used in the method, e.g., asdescribed herein, the therapeutically effective dose can be estimatedinitially from cell culture assays.

In a specific embodiment, a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein does not exhibit a significant increase in cytotoxicity againstnormal cells (e.g., non-transformed peripheral blood lymphocytes, bonemarrow-derived mesenchymal cells, uninfected cells, or non-tumor cells)relative to a cell of the same type that has not been geneticallyengineered to express a chimeric receptor complex described herein.

5.7.4 Animal Models

A genetically engineered cell(s) described herein is preferably assayedin non-human animals for the desired therapeutic or prophylacticactivity prior to use in humans. For example, in one embodiment, agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein can be administered tothe animal at the same time as the onset of a disease or disorder in theanimal. In another embodiment, a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein can be administered to the animal prior to the onset ofa disease or disorder in the animal. In another embodiment, agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein can be administered tothe animal subsequent to the onset of a disease or disorder in theanimal. In a specific embodiment, the genetically engineered cell(s)described herein is administered to the animal more than one time. Inanother specific embodiment, the genetically engineered cell(s)described herein is administered in combination with another therapy.

A genetically engineered cell(s) described herein can be tested inanimal models systems including, but are not limited to, rats, mice,chicken, cows, monkeys, pigs, goats, sheep, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs,etc. In a specific embodiment, a genetically engineered cell(s)described herein is tested in a mouse model system. Such model systemsare widely used and well-known to the skilled artisan.

The anti-cancer activity of a genetically engineered cell(s) describedherein can be determined by using various experimental animal models forthe study of cancer well known in the art as described in, e.g.,Relevance of Tumor Models for Anticancer Drug Development (1999, eds.Fiebig and Burger); Contributions to Oncology (1999, Karger); The NudeMouse in Oncology Research (1991, eds. Boven and Winograd); andAnticancer Drug Development Guide (1997 ed. Teicher), incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties.

Animal models for cancer can be used to assess the efficacy of agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein, a composition thereof,or a combination therapy. Non-limiting examples of animal models forlung cancer include, but are not limited to, lung cancer animal modelsdescribed by Zhang & Roth (1994, In vivo 8(5):755-69) and a transgenicmouse model with disrupted p53 function (see, e.g., Morris et al., 1998,J La State Med Soc 150(4):179-85). An example of an animal model forbreast cancer includes, but is not limited to, a transgenic mouse thatoverexpresses cyclin D1 (see, e.g., Hosokawa et al., 2001, TransgenicRes 10(5):471-8). An example of an animal model for colon cancerincludes, but is not limited to, a TCR-ÿ and p53 double knockout mouse(see, e.g., Kado et al., 2001, Cancer Res 61(6):2395-8). Examples ofanimal models for pancreatic cancer include, but are not limited to, ametastatic model of Panc02 murine pancreatic adenocarcinoma (see, e.g.,Wang et al., 2001, Int J Pancreatol 29(1):37-46) and nu-nu micegenerated in subcutaneous pancreatic tumours (see, e.g., Ghaneh et al.,2001, Gene Ther 8(3):199-208). Examples of animal models fornon-Hodgkin's lymphoma include, but are not limited to, a severecombined immunodeficiency (“SCID”) mouse (see, e.g., Bryant et al.,2000, Lab Invest 80(4):553-73) and an IgHmu-HOX11 transgenic mouse (see,e.g., Hough et al., 1998, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 95(23):13853-8). Anexample of an animal model for esophageal cancer includes, but is notlimited to, a mouse transgenic for the human papillomavirus type 16 E7oncogene (see, e.g., Herber et al., 1996, J Virol 70(3):1873-81).Examples of animal models for colorectal carcinomas include, but are notlimited to, Apc mouse models (see, e.g., Fodde & Smits, 2001, Trends MolMed 7(8):369-73 and Kuraguchi et al., 2000, Oncogene 19(50):5755-63).

For animal models of infectious diseases, the effectiveness of agenetically engineered cell(s) described herein relative to a negativecontrol can be assessed in animals infected with an infectious agent(e.g., a virus or bacteria). Samples obtained from these animals (e.g.,serum, urine, sputum, semen, saliva, plasma, or tissue sample) can betested for enhancement of immune function, e.g., enhancement in cytokinesecretion, chemokine secretion, enhancement in antibody production, Tcell proliferation, NK cell proliferation, or cytotoxicity, with methodswell known in the art and described herein. Samples obtained from theseanimals (e.g., serum, urine, sputum, semen, saliva, plasma, or tissuesample) can also be tested for reduction in replication of theinfectious agent via well known methods in the art, e.g., those thatmeasure altered replication (as determined, e.g., by plaque formation)or the production of infectious agent proteins (as determined, e.g., byWestern blot, ELISA, or flow cytometry analysis) or infectious agentnucleic acids (as determined, e.g., by RT-PCR, northern blot analysis orsouthern blot). For quantitation of virus in tissue samples, tissuesamples are homogenized in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), anddilutions of clarified homogenates are adsorbed for 1 hour at 37° C. onmonolayers of cells (e.g., Vero, CEF or MDCK cells). In other assays,histopathologic evaluations are performed after infection, preferablyevaluations of the organ(s) the virus is known to target for infection.Virus immunohistochemistry can be performed using a viral-specificmonoclonal antibody. Non-limiting exemplary animal models describedbelow can be adapted for other viral systems.

Various animal models for infectious diseases that are well known in theart can be employed to assess the efficacy of a genetically engineeredcell(s) described herein in treating, protecting against, and/ormanaging infectious diseases, e.g.: mouse models of herpes simplex virus(HSV) are described in Crute et al., Nature Medicine, 2002, 8:386-391and Bolger et al., Antiviral Res., 1997, 35:157-165; guinea pig modelsof HSV are described in Chen et al., Virol. J, 2004 Nov. 23, 1:11;animal models of mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) and human cytomegalovirus(HCMV) are described in Kern et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother.,2004, 48:4745-4753; Guinea pig models of CMV is described in Bourne etal., Antiviral Res., 2000, 47:103-109, Bravo et al., Antiviral Res.,2003, 60:41-49 and Bravo et al, J. Infectious Diseases, 2006,193:591-597; animal models of influenza virus are described in Sidwellet al., Antiviral Res., 2000, 48:1-16; and McCauley et al., AntiviralRes., 1995, 27:179-186; mouse models of hepatitis B virus (HBV) aredescribed in Cavanaugh et al., J. Virol., 1997, 71:3236-3243 andGuidotti et al., J. Virol., 1995, 69:6158-6169; mouse models ofhepatitis C virus (HCV) are described in Zhu et al., AntimicrobialAgents and Chemother., 2006, 50:3260-3268, Bright et al., Nature, 2005,436:973-978, Hsu et al., Nat. Biotechnol., 2003, 21:519-525, Ilan etal., J. Infect. Dis. 2002, 185:153-161, Kneteman et al., Hepatology,2006, 43:1346-1353, Mercer et al., Nat. Med., 2001, 7:927-933, and Wu etal., Gastroenterology, 2005, 128:1416-1423; animal models of HIV aredescribed in Ayash-Rashkovsky et al., FASEB J., 2005, 19:1149-1151,Mosier et al., Semin. Immunol., 1996, 8:255-262, Mosier et al., Hosp.Pract. (Off Ed)., 1996, 31:41-48, 53-55, 59-60, Bonyhadi et al., Mol.Med. Today, 1997, 3:246-253, Jolicoeur et al., Leukemia, 1999,13:S78-S80, Browning et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1997,94:14637-14641, and Sawada et al., J. Exp. Med., 1998, 187:1439-1449,and Schito et al., Curr. HIV Res., 2006, 4:379-386.

Other animal models for viral infections can also be used to assess theefficacy of a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein, acomposition thereof, or a combination therapy, e.g., animal models forviral infections such as EBV-associated diseases, gammaherpesviruses,infectious mononucleosis, simian immunodeficiency virus (“SIV”), Bornadisease virus infection, hepatitis, varicella virus infection, viralpneumonitis, Epstein-Barr virus pathogenesis, feline immunodeficiencyvirus (“FIV”), HTLV type 1 infection, human rotaviruses, and genitalherpes have been developed (see, e.g., Hayashi et al., 2002, HistolHistopathol 17(4):1293-310; Arico et al., 2002, J Interferon CytokineRes 22(11):1081-8; Flano et al., 2002, Immunol Res 25(3):201-17;Sauermann, 2001, Curr Mol Med 1(4):515-22; Pletnikov et al., 2002, FrontBiosci 7:d593-607; Engler et al., 2001, Mol Immunol 38(6):457-65; Whiteet al., 2001, Brain Pathol 11(4):475-9; Davis & Matalon, 2001, NewsPhysiol Sci 16:185-90; Wang, 2001, Curr Top Microbiol Immunol.258:201-19; Phillips et al., 2000, J Psychopharmacol. 14(3):244-50;Kazanji, 2000, AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 16(16):1741-6; Saif et al.,1996, Arch Virol Suppl. 12:153-61; and Hsiung et al., 1984, Rev InfectDis. 6(1):33-50).

Other animal models for viral respiratory infections include, but notlimited to, PIV (see, e.g., Shephard et al., 2003 Res Vet Sci 74(2):187-190; Ottolini et al., 2002 J Infect Dis 186(12): 1713-1717), and RSV(see, e.g., Culley et al., 2002 J Exp Med 196(10): 1381-1386; and Curtiset al., 2002 Exp Biol Med 227(9): 799-802).

A genetically engineered cell(s) described herein, composition thereof,or combination therapy can be tested for their ability to decrease thetime course of viral infection.

Animal models for bacterial infections can also be used to assess theefficacy of a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein, acomposition thereof, or a combination therapy. Animal models forbacterial infections such as H. pylori-infection, genital mycoplasmosis,primary sclerosing cholangitis, cholera, chronic lung infection withPseudomonas aeruginosa, Legionnaires' disease, gastroduodenal ulcerdisease, bacterial meningitis, gastric Helicobacter infection,pneumococcal otitis media, experimental allergic neuritis, leprousneuropathy, mycobacterial infection, endocarditis, Aeromonas-associatedenteritis, Bacteroides fragilis infection, syphilis, streptococcalendocarditis, acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, human scrub typhus,toxic shock syndrome, anaerobic infections, Escherichia coli infections,and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections have been developed (see, e.g.,Sugiyama et al., 2002, J Gastroenterol. 37 Suppl 13:6-9; Brown et al.,2001, Am J Reprod Immunol. 46(3):232-41; Vierling, 2001, Best Pract ResClin Gastroenterol. 15(4):591-610; Klose, 2000, Trends Microbiol.8(4):189-91; Stotland et al., 2000, Pediatr Pulmonol. 30(5):413-24;Brieland et al., 2000, Immunopharmacology 48(3):249-52; Lee, 2000,Baillieres Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 14(1):75-96; Koedel &Pfister, 1999, Infect Dis Clin North Am. 13(3):549-77; Nedrud, 1999,FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 24(2):243-50; Prellner et al., 1999, MicrobDrug Resist. 5(1):73-82; Vriesendorp, 1997, J Infect Dis. 176 Suppl2:S164-8; Shetty & Antia, 1996, Indian J Lepr. 68(1):95-104;Balasubramanian et al., 1994, Immunobiology 191(4-5):395-401; Carbon etal., 1994, Int J Biomed Comput. 36(1-2):59-67; Haberberger et al., 1991,Experientia. 47(5):426-9; Onderdonk et al., 1990, Rev Infect Dis. 12Suppl 2:S169-77; Wicher & Wicher, 1989, Crit Rev Microbiol.16(3):181-234; Scheld, 1987, J Antimicrob Chemother. 20 Suppl A:71-85;Emslie & Nade, 1986, Rev Infect Dis. 8(6):841-9; Ridgway et al., 1986,Lab Anim Sci. 36(5):481-5; Quimby & Nguyen, 1985, Crit Rev Microbiol.12(1):1-44; Onderdonk et al., 1979, Rev Infect Dis. 1(2):291-301; Smith,1976, Ciba Found Symp. (42):45-72, and Taylor-Robinson, 1976, Infection.4(1 Suppl):4-8).

A genetically engineered cell(s) described herein, a compositionthereof, or a combination therapy can be tested for their ability todecrease the time course of bacterial infection, e.g., a bacterialrespiratory infection by at least 25%, at least 50%, at least 60%, atleast 75%, at least 85%, at least 95%, or at least 99% relative to anegative control using methods well known in the art.

The efficacy of a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein, acomposition thereof, or a combination therapy for the treatment,protection against, and/or management of a fungal infection can beassessed in animal models for such infections. Animal models for fungalinfections such as Candida infections, zygomycosis, Candida mastitis,progressive disseminated trichosporonosis with latent trichosporonemia,disseminated candidiasis, pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis, pulmonaryaspergillosis, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, cryptococcal meningitis,coccidioidal meningoencephalitis and cerebrospinal vasculitis,Aspergillus niger infection, Fusarium keratitis, paranasal sinusmycoses, Aspergillus fumigatus endocarditis, tibial dyschondroplasia,Candida glabrata vaginitis, oropharyngeal candidiasis, X-linked chronicgranulomatous disease, tinea pedis, cutaneous candidiasis, mycoticplacentitis, disseminated trichosporonosis, allergic bronchopulmonaryaspergillosis, mycotic keratitis, Cryptococcus neoformans infection,fungal peritonitis, Curvularia geniculata infection, staphylococcalendophthalmitis, sporotrichosis, and dermatophytosis have been developed(see, e.g., Arendrup et al., 2002, Infection 30(5):286-91; Kamei, 2001,Mycopathologia 152(1):5-13; Guhad et al., 2000, FEMS Microbiol Lett.192(1):27-31; Yamagata et al., 2000, J Clin Microbiol. 38(9):32606;Andrutis et al., 2000, J Clin Microbiol. 38(6):2317-23; Cock et al.,2000, Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 42(2):59-66; Shibuya et al., 1999,Microb Pathog. 27(3):123-31; Beers et al., 1999, J Lab Clin Med.133(5):423-33; Najvar et al., 1999, Antimicrob Agents Chemother.43(2):413-4; Williams et al., 1988, J Infect Dis. 178(4):1217-21;Yoshida, 1988, Kansenshogaku Zasshi. 1998 June; 72(6):621-30;Alexandrakis et al., 1998, Br J Ophthalmol. 82(3):306-11; Chakrabarti etal., 1997, J Med Vet Mycol. 35(4):295-7; Martin et al., 1997, AntimicrobAgents Chemother. 41(1):13-6; Chu et al., 1996, Avian Dis. 40(3):715-9;Fidel et al., 1996, J Infect Dis. 173(2):425-31; Cole et al., 1995, FEMSMicrobiol Lett. 15; 126(2):177-80; Pollock et al., 1995, Nat Genet.9(2):202-9; Uchida et al., 1994, Jpn J Antibiot. 47(10):1407-12;Maebashi et al., 1994, J Med Vet Mycol. 32(5):349-59; Jensen &Schonheyder, 1993, J Exp Anim Sci. 35(4):155-60; Gokaslan & Anaissie,1992, Infect Immun. 60(8):3339-44; Kurup et al., 1992, J Immunol.148(12):3783-8; Singh et al., 1990, Mycopathologia. 112(3):127-37;Salkowski & Balish, 1990, Infect Immun. 58(10):3300-6; Ahmad et al.,1986, Am J Kidney Dis. 7(2):153-6; Alture-Werber E, Edberg S C, 1985,Mycopathologia. 89(2):69-73; Kane et al., 1981, Antimicrob AgentsChemother. 20(5):595-9; Barbee et al., 1977, Am J Pathol. 86(1):281-4;and Maestrone et al., 1973, Am J Vet Res. 34(6):833-6). Animal modelsfor fungal respiratory infections such as Candida albicans, Aspergillusfumigatus, invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, Pneumocystis carinii,pulmonary cryptococcosis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Cunninghamellabertholletia (see, e.g., Aratani et al., 2002 Med Mycol 40(6):557-563;Bozza et al., 2002 Microbes Infect 4(13): 1281-1290; Kurup et al., 2002Int Arch Allergy Immunol 129(2):129-137; Hori et al., 2002 Eur J Immuno32(5): 1282-1291; Rivera et al., 2002 J Immuno 168(7): 3419-3427;Vassallo et al., 2001, Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 25(2): 203-211; Wilderet al., 2002 Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 26(3): 304-314; Yonezawa et al.,2000 J Infect Chemother 6(3): 155-161; Cacciapuoti et al., 2000Antimicrob Agents Chemother 44(8): 2017-2022; and Honda et al., 1998Mycopathologia 144(3): 141-146).

A genetically engineered cell(s) described herein, a compositionthereof, or a combination therapy can be tested for their ability todecrease the time course of fungal infection by at least 25%, at least50%, at least 60%, at least 75%, at least 85%, at least 95%, or at least99%.

Techniques known to those of skill in the art can be used to analyze thefunction of a genetically engineered cell(s) described herein, acomposition thereof, or a combination therapy in vivo.

5.8 Kits

Provided herein is a pharmaceutical pack or kit comprising one or morecontainers filled with a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequenceencoding a chimeric receptor complex described herein. Also providedherein is a pharmaceutical pack or kit comprising one or more containersfilled with cells (in particular, NK cells and/or T cells) comprising apolynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a chimericreceptor complex described herein. Optionally associated with suchcontainer(s) can be a notice in the form prescribed by a governmentalagency regulating the manufacture, use or sale of pharmaceuticals orbiological products, which notice reflects approval by the agency ofmanufacture, use or sale for human administration. In addition, thepharmaceutical pack or kit may include instructions for use of thepolynucleotide or genetically engineered cells described herein.

The kits encompassed herein can be used in the above methods.

6. EXAMPLES

The following examples of the invention are included by way ofillustration, and not by way of limitation.

Based on the concept that supra-physiologic activating signals could beused to enhance NK cell antitumor capacity and could result in anincreased usefulness of NK cells in therapeutic applications, aconstruct encoding a chimeric receptor comprising NKG2D, DAP10 and theintracellular domain of CD3zeta, a signaling molecule known to triggercytotoxicity in NK cells (Andre et al., 2004, Eur. J. Immunol.34:961-971; Imai et al., 2005, Blood 106, 376-383), was designed andconstructed using recombinant DNA methods, then expressed in activatedNK cells. The expression of the chimeric receptor and its signalingprofile and anticancer potential was examined in vitro and in vivo.

6.1 Materials and Methods

6.1.1 Tumor Cell Lines

The human B-lineage ALL cell lines OP-1 and REH, and the T-lineage ALLcell lines CEM-C7, Jurkat and MOLT-4 were obtained from the St. JudeChildren's Research Hospital tissue repository. The cell lines U-2 OS,HOS and MG-63 (osteosarcoma), DU 145, PC-3 and LNCaP (prostatecarcinoma), Km12L4 (colon carcinoma), SNU1 (gastric carcinoma), SW900(lung squamous cell carcinoma), HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma) andMCF7 (breast carcinoma) were obtained from the American Type CultureCollection (ATCC; Rockville, Md.). The rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines RH18,RH36, TE-32 and the neuroblastoma cell line SKNSH were provided by Dr.Peter Houghton (Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio); RH30(rhabdomyosarcoma) was available from the St. Jude Children's ResearchHospital tissue repository (Cho et al., 2010, Clin Cancer Res.16:3901-3909). Human mesenchymal cells (MSC) were developed in thelaboratory (Mihara et al., 2003, Br. J. Haematol. 120:846-849).RPMI-1640 (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.) supplemented with 10% fetalbovine serum (FBS; Atlanta Biologicals, Lawrenceville, Ga.) andantibiotics was used to maintain all cell lines with the exception ofU2-OS, HOS and MG-63, which were maintained in DMEM (Cellgro, Manassas,Va.).

For the visualization of injected tumor cells in immunodeficient mice,the U-2 OS cell line was transduced with a murine stem cell virus(MSCV)-internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-GFP retroviral vector (fromthe St. Jude Vector Development and Production Shared Resource)containing the firefly luciferase gene. Transduced cells were selectedfor their expression of GFP with a FACSAria cell sorter (BD Biosciences,San Jose, Calif.).

6.1.2 Human NK cell Expansion

Peripheral blood samples were obtained from healthy adult donors.Mononuclear cells collected from the samples by centrifugation on aLymphoprep density step (Nycomed, Oslo, Norway) were washed twice inRPMI-1640. To expand CD56+ CD3-NK cells, peripheral blood mononuclearcells and the genetically modified K562-mb15-41BBL cell line made in thelaboratory were co-cultured, as previously described (Imai et al., 2005,Blood 106:376-383; Fujisaki et al., 2009, Cancer Res. 69: 4010-4017).Briefly, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (1.5×10⁶) were cultured in a24-well tissue culture plate with 1×10⁶ K562-mb15-41BBL cells inRPMI-1640 medium containing and 10% FBS and 10 IU/mL human IL-2(National Cancer Institute BRB Preclinical Repository, Rockville, Md.).Every 2 days the tissue culture medium was exchanged with fresh mediumand IL-2. After 7 days of co-culture, residual T cells were removedusing Dynabeads CD3 (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.), producing cellpopulations containing >95% CD56+CD3-NK cells.

6.1.3 Plasmids

The pMSCV-IRES-GFP, pEQ-PAM3(-E), and pRDF were obtained from the St.Jude Vector Development and Production Shared Resource (Imai et al.,2004, Leukemia 18:676-684). The cDNA encoding NKG2D, DAP10 and theintracellular domain of CD3 zeta were subcloned by PCR using cDNAderived from expanded NK cells as a template. Several constructscontaining combinations of these molecules were prepared and theexpression cassettes were subcloned into EcoRI sites of MSCV vector.Because NKG2D and CD3ζ are type II and type I proteins, respectively,the ATG initiation codon of NKG2D was removed and an ATG start codon wasadded to the cDNA of the intracellular domain of CD3 zeta to prepare aconstruct containing both proteins, as previously described (Zhang etal., 2007, Cancer Res. 67:11029-11036). NKG2D and CD3 zeta were thenassembled using splicing by overlapping extension by PCR (SOE-PCR). TheGFP in the vector was then replaced with DAP10 (containing a FLAG-tag)between the NcoI and NotI sites; one nucleotide was then removed fromthe NcoI site to make DAP10 in frame.

6.1.4 Virus Production and Gene Transduction

To generate RD144-pseudotyped retrovirus, fuGENE 6 (Roche, Indianapolis,Ind.) 2.5×10⁶ 293 T cells were transfected with 3.5 μg of cDNA encodingNKG2D constructs, 3.5 μg of pEQ-PAM3(-E), and 3 μg of pRDF, andmaintained in 10-cm tissue culture dishes for 16 h (Imai et al., 2004,Leukemia 18:676-684; Imai et al., 2005, Blood 106:376-383). Afterreplacing the medium with RPMI-1640 with 10% FCS and antibiotics at 24hours, the conditioned medium containing retrovirus at 48, 72 and 96hours were harvested and added it to RetroNectin (TakaRa, Otsu,Japan)-coated polypropylene tubes, which were centrifuged at 1400 g for10 min and incubated at 37° C. for 4 hours. After additionalcentrifugation, and removal of the supernatant, expanded NK cells(5×10⁵) were added to the tubes and left in at 37° C. for 24 h. Thisprocedure was repeated on two other successive days. Cells were thenmaintained in RPMI-1640 with FBS, antibiotics and 50 IU/ml of IL-2 untilthe time of the experiments, 3-10 days after transduction.

6.1.5 Analysis of Expression

Surface expression of NKG2D was analyzed by flow cytometry using ananti-human NKG2D antibody conjugated to peridinin chlorophyll protein(R&D, Minneapolis, Minn.). Expression of DAP10-FLAG was visualized withan anti-FLAG antibody conjugated to phycoerythrin (Abcam, Cambridge,Mass.). For Western blotting, NK cells were incubated with 0.1 μM sodiumorthovanadate and 0.034% H₂O₂ at 37° C. for 10 minutes. Cells were lysedin Cellytic M lysis Buffer (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.) containing 1%protease inhibitor cocktail (Sigma) and 1% phosphatase inhibitorcocktail 2 (Sigma). After centrifugation, lysate supernatants wereboiled with an equal volume of LDS buffer (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.)with or without reducing buffer (Invitrogen) and then separated byNuPAGE Novex 12% Bis-Tris Gel (Invitrogen). The proteins weretransferred to a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane, which wasincubated with a rabbit anti-human CD3zeta phospho (pY83) antibody(clone EP776(2)Y; Epitomics, Burlingame, Calif.). Membranes were thenwashed, incubated with a goat anti-rabbit IgG horseradishperoxidase-conjugated second antibody (Cell Signaling, Danvers, Mass.),and developed by using the Amersham ECL Prime detection reagent (GEHealthcare).

6.1.6 mRNA Electroporation

The pCMV6-XL5 vector (Origene, Rockville, Md.) was used as a templatefor in vitro mRNA transcription. The NKG2D-CD3zeta and DAP10 cDNA weresubcloned into EcoRI and XbaI sites of pCMV6-XL5, respectively. Thecorresponding mRNA were transcribed in vitro with T7 RNA polymeraseusing Ambion mMESSAGE mMACHINE T7 Ultra kit (Ambion, Austin, Tx)(Shimasaki et al., 2012, Cytotherapy 14:830-840).

For electroporation the MaxCyte GT system (MaxCyte, Gaithersburg, Md.)was used, as previously described (Shimasaki et al., 2012, Cytotherapy14:830-840). Briefly, expanded NK cells (4×10⁶) were washed once with EPbuffer (MaxCyte), mixed with 400 μg/ml mRNA, transferred into theprocessing chamber, and transfected using the program “NK#2” (Shimasakiet al., 2012, Cytotherapy 14:830-840). Immediately afterelectroporation, cells were transferred from the processing chamber to a96-well plate, incubated for 20 minutes at 37° C., and then cultured inRPMI-1640 with FBS, antibiotics and 50 IU/mL IL-2.

6.1.7 Cytotoxicity and Degranulation Assays

Target cells were suspended in RPMI-1640 with 10% FBS, labeled withcalcein AM, and plated into 96-well flat bottom plates (Costar, Corning,N.Y.). Expanded NK cells, suspended in RPMI-1640 with 10% FBS and 50IU/mL IL-2 were then added at various E: T ratios as indicated inResults, and cocultured with target cells for 4 hours. Cell were thenstained with propridium iodide and cytotoxicity was measured by flowcytometry using a FACScan (Becton Dickinson), enumerating the number ofviable target cells (calcein AM-positive, propidium-iodide negative, andlight scattering properties of viable cells) (Fujisaki et al., 2009,Cancer Res. 69: 4010-4017). For adherent cell lines, the plates wereplaced in an incubator for at least 4 hours to allow for cell attachmentbefore adding NK cells. At the end of the cultures, cells were detachedusing trypsin plus EDTA. In some experiments, NK cells were incubatedwith anti-NKG2D (clone 149810; R&D), anti-CD56 (BD Biosciences) or anisotype-matched non-reactive antibody for 10 minutes before coculture.

NK cell degranulation after NKG2D stimulation was directly tested withan anti-NKG2D antibody. NK cells (1×10⁵) were plated into each well of a96-well round bottom plate and incubated with anti-Biotin MACSiBeads(Miltenyi Biotec, Auburn, Calif.) coated with biotin-conjugatedanti-NKG2D antibody (clone 1D11; eBioscience; San Diego, Calif.) (tenbeads for one NK cell) for 4 hours at 37° C. An anti-human CD107aantibody conjugated to phycoerythrin (BD Biosciences) was added at thebeginning of the cultures and one hour later GolgiStop (0.15 μl; BDBiosciences) was added. The cells were stained with anti-human CD56conjugated to fluorescein isothiocyanate (BD Biosciences) and analyzedby flow cytometry.

6.1.8 Expression of NKG2D Ligands, Phospho-Protein Analysis andMeasurement of Cytokine Levels

Surface expression of all NKG2D ligands was evaluated by staining withhuman recombinant NKG2D/Fc chimera (R&D), PE-conjugated goat anti-humanIgGFc (γ) (Fisher Scientific; Hampton, N.H.), MIC A/B (6D4, BDBiosciences), ULBP-1(R&D) and ULBP-2 (R&D) and ULBP-3 (R&D).

For phosphoprotein analysis, mock- and NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta-transducedexpanded NK cells (8×10⁶) were cultured with or without anti-NKG2Dantibody and beads as described above. After 1 hour of stimulation, celllysates were prepared using a lysis buffer containing 20 mM3-(N-morpholino) propanesulfonic acid, 2 mM EGTA, 5 mM EDTA, 30 mMsodium fluoride, 60 mM-glycerophosphate, 20 mM sodium pyrophosphate, 1mM sodium orthovanadate, 1% Triton X-100, Complete Mini proteaseinhibitor cocktail (Roche, Mannheim, Germany) and 1 mM dithiothreitol.After sonication, lysates were frozen at −80° C. and shipped in dry iceto Kinexus (Vancouver, Calif.) for Kinex Antibody Microarray analysis.To measure cytokine/chemokine production after NKG2D ligation, mock- andNKG2D-DAP10-CD3ζ cells (1×10⁵ in 200 μl/well of a 96-well plate) werecultured with or without anti-NKG2D antibody and beads as describedabove. Supernatants (120 μl) were collected after 4, 8 and 16 hours andanalyzed using the Luminex human cytokine/chemokine panel I (41 humancytokines/chemokines) (Merck Millipore; Billerica, Mass.).

6.1.9 Murine Models

U2-OS cells expressing luciferase were injected i.p. inNOD.Cg-Prkdc^(scid) IL2rg^(tmlWil)/SzJ (NOD/scid IL2RGnull) mice(Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Me.; 2×10⁵ per mouse) (Cho et al.,2010, Clin Cancer Res. 16:3901-3909). NK cells from healthy donors wereexpanded for 7 days, transduced with the MSCV vector containing eitherGFP or NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta, resuspended in RPMI-1640 plus 10% FBS (3×10⁶cells per mouse) and then injected i.p. 7 days after U2-OS injection. Asingle injection of NK cells was given together with i.p. injections ofIL-2 (20,000 IU each) for 4 days. As a control, a group of mice receivedtissue culture medium instead of NK cells. U2-OS engraftment andprogression was evaluated using a Xenogen IVIS-200 system (Caliper LifeSciences, Hopkinton, Mass.), with imaging beginning 5 minutes after i.p.injection of an aqueous solution of D-luciferin potassium salt (3mg/mouse). Photons emitted from luciferase-expression cells werequantified using the Living Image 3.0 software program. The studies wereapproved by St. Jude Animal Care Committee.

6.2 Results

6.2.1 Chimeric Receptor Design, Construction, and Expression

The genes encoding NKG2D, DAP10 and CD3zeta were cloned from a cDNAlibrary prepared from human NK cells, which were expanded fromperipheral blood mononuclear cells. A construct encoding a chimericreceptor comprising NKG2D, DAP10 and the intracellular domain of CD3zetawas constructed and then inserted into a retroviral vector, as shown inFIG. 1A.

Human NK cells were expanded from peripheral blood mononuclear cells,and the NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta construct was then used to transduceexpanded activated NK cells. Whether retroviral transduction of theconstruct resulted in an increase of NKG2D expression was tested bycomparing NKG2D expression in NK cells transduced with an MSCV vectorcontaining only GFP (“Mock’) with NKG2D expression in NK cells cellstransduced with the NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta construct. In experiments withexpanded NK cells from 21 donors (>98% CD56+CD3-after T-cell depletion),median percent GFP-positive cells after transduction with the Mock GFPvector was 80% (range 67%-96%), whereas transduction with theNKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta construct in NK cells from the same donors resultedin a marked increase in NKG2D expression (P<0.0001; Figure B).

The results of NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta transduction were then compared tothose obtained after transduction of a NKG2D-CD3zeta construct lackingDAP10 in experiments with NK cells from 6 donors. As shown in FIG. 1C,NKG2D expression was consistently higher when DAP10 was present in theconstruct (P=0.0027), in agreement with previous reports indicating thatDAP10 supports NKG2D expression (Wu et al., 1999, Science 285:730-732;Diefenbach et al., 2002, Nat. Immunol. 3:1142-1149; Garrity et al.,2005, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 102:7641-7646; Horng et al., 2007,Nat. Immunol. 8:1345-1352).

To ensure that all components of the receptor were expressed, aconstruct containing DAP10 with a FLAG-tag was used. As shown in FIG.1D, NK cells transduced with NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta expressed DAP10. asdetermined by Western blot analysis using an antibody againstphosphor-(pY83)-CD3zeta, these cells were demonstrated to express achimeric protein containing CD3ζ in addition to endogenous CD3zeta (FIG.1E). Thus, the three components of the NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta receptor weredemonstrated to be expressed in human NK cells.

6.2.2 NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta Receptors Increase the Anti-Tumor Cytotoxicityof Activated NK Cells

NK cells expanded and activated after co-culture with theK562-mb15-41BBL cell line exert much higher cytotoxicity than that ofeither primary NK cells or IL-2-stimulated NK cells (Cho et al., 2010,Clin Cancer Res. 16:3901-3909; Fujisaki et al., 2009, Cancer Res.69:4010-4017). Whether expression of NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta receptors inthese cells could further improve their anti-tumor cytotoxicity wasinvestigated. For this purpose, a broad panel of tumor cell linesoriginating from T-cell ALL (CEM-C7, MOLT-4, Jurkat) and B-cell ALL(REH, OP-1), osteosarcoma (U-2 OS, MG-36, HOS), prostate carcinoma (DU145, PC-3, LNCaP), rhabdomyosarcoma (RH18, RH30, TE32, RH36),neuroblastoma (SKNSH), Ewing sarcoma (TC71), colon carcinoma (Km12L4),gastric carcinoma (SNU1), lung squamous cell carcinoma (SW900), hepatoma(HepG2), and breast carcinoma (MCF7) were targeted. Four-hourcytotoxicity assays with NK cells expanded from 14 donors at 1:1 or 1:2effector:target (E:T) ratios for a total of 65 experiments wereperformed. First, the E:T ratio that would produce sub-maximal levels ofcytotoxicity was determined or each cell line. Then, the gains producedby transducing NK cells with NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta were tested. Cells fromthe same donors transduced with a vector containing GFP alone were usedas a control. As shown in FIGS. 2A and B, expression of theNKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta receptor significantly increased overallcytotoxicity against both leukemic and solid tumor cell lines(P<0.0001). Gains in cytotoxicity were particularly evident in the ALLcell lines REH, MOLT4 and CEM-C7, in the osteosarcoma cell lines U-2 OS,MG-36, HOS, in the prostate carcinoma cell lines DU 145 and PC-3, and inthe rhabdomyosarcoma cell line RH36 (FIG. 2C). The sole exception wasthe B-lineage ALL cell line OP-1, which remained relatively refractoryto NK cells despite NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta receptor expression (FIG. 2A).

Whether expression of NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta receptors increased thecytotoxicity of expanded NK cells against non-transformed cells, such asallogeneic peripheral blood mononuclear cells and bone marrow-derivedmesenchymal cells, was then investigated. As shown in FIG. 2D,cytotoxicity remained below 20% at 1:1 ratio, regardless of whether NKcells were transduced with the receptor or with GFP (FIG. 2D). Theseresults indicate that expression of NKG2D-DAP10-CD3ζ□receptors canmarkedly enhance NK cell cytotoxicity against cancer cells withoutsignificantly increasing their activity against non-tumor cells.

6.2.3 NK Cytotoxicity is Triggered by Ligation of NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zetaReceptors

The relation between NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta mediated cytotoxicity andexpression of NKG2D ligands on target cells was then analyzed. To thisend, a human recombinant NKG2D/Ig Fc reagent was used to measure thecollective expression of all NKG2D ligands. The cell line OP-1 did notshow any labeling with NKG2D/Ig Fc, and also gave a negative stainingwith antibodies to MICA/B, ULBP-1, -2 and -3, which explained itsresistance to NK cell killing regardless of whether these expressedNKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta or not. All the remaining cell lines studied werelabeled by NKG2D/Ig Fc, but no significant relation between level ofoverall NKG2D ligand expression and NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zetareceptor-mediated cytotoxicity was observed (FIG. 3A). Non-transformedbone marrow-derived mesenchymal cells and peripheral blood monocytes hada relatively weak staining with NKG2D/Ig Fc, and most peripheral bloodlymphocytes had no staining at all.

To ascertain whether the increase in cytotoxicity produced bytransduction of the NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta receptor was directly related toreceptor stimulation, an anti-NKG2D blocking antibody (clone 149810; Choet al., 2010, Clin Cancer Res. 16:3901-3909) was used. In experimentswith the U-2 OS osteosarcoma cell line, preincubation of NK cells withthe antibody markedly inhibited NK cytotoxicity and abrogated the gainsachieved by NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta receptor transduction (FIG. 3B).Conversely, direct stimulation of the receptor by an anti-NKG2Dagonistic antibody (clone 1D11; Barber et al., 2011, Blood117:6571-6581) provoked massive lysosomal granule exocytosis, asdetected by CD107a expression (Betts et al., 2003, J. Immunol. Methods.281:65-78), which was significantly higher than that achieved by NKG2Dstimulation of mock-transduced NK cells (P<0.001; FIG. 3C, D).

6.2.4 Engagement of NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta Triggers Signal Transduction,Cytokine Secretion and Sustained Stimulation

To further understand the signaling properties of NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zetaand the differences from the signals triggered by endogenous NKG2D,mock- and NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta-transduced activated NK cells werestimulated with the anti-NKG2D agonistic antibody for 1 hour, and celllysates were analyzed with the Kinex antibody microarray, which contains809 anti-phosphoprotein antibodies. As shown in FIG. 4A, thephosphoprotein profile of NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta-expressing NK cells wassubstantially different from that of mock-transduced NK cells.Particularly prominent after NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta stimulation was thephosphorylation of the CREB1 transcription factor, known to promoteactivation and proliferation of T and B cells (Wen et al., 2010, J.Immunol. 185:6413-6419), of TBK1, a serine-threonine protein kinase andNF-κB activator with pro-survival roles (Baldwin et al., 2012, Immunol.Rev. 246:327-345), and of ACK1, a tyrosine-protein andserine/threonine-protein kinase that regulates AKT (Mahajan et al.,2010, J. Cell Physiol. 224:327-333), a key effector of DAP10 signaling(Chang et al., 1999, J. Immunol. 163:4651-4654).

To determine whether NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta signaling resulted in anincreased cytokine/chemokine secretion, mock or transduced NK cells from3 donors were incubated with the biotin-labeled anti-NKG2D agonisticantibody and anti-biotin beads and measured cytokine/chemokine levels inthe supernatants after 4, 8 and 16 hours. As shown in FIG. 4B andSupplementary FIG. 1, engagement of NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta caused a markedincrease in IFNγ, GM-CSF, IL-13, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, CCL5 and TNFαproduction (P<0.01 by 2-way ANOVA for all comparisons). For these 7factors, levels were also significantly higher when NKG2D-stimulatedcells (either mock- or NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta-transduced) were compared tothe same cells cultured without antibody (Table 1). Levels of the othercytokines/chemokines measured (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-1rα, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5,IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-12 (p40), IL-12 (p70), IL-15, IL-17A,sCD40L, EGF, eotaxin, FGF-2, Flt-3 ligand, fractalkine, G-CSF, GRO,IFNα2, IP-10, MCP-1, MCP-3, MDC, PDGF-AA, PDGF-BB, TGFα, TNFβ, and VEGF)were not significantly different between mock- andNKG2D-DAP10-CD3ζ-transduced NK cells, regardless of NKG2D stimulation(see Table 1). For EGF, G-CSF, IL-10, IL-12p40, IL-12p70, IL-15, IL-17,IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-3, IL-4, IL-6, IL-7, IL-9, IP-10, MCP-3, MDC, PDGF-BBand TGF-α, all the measurements were <5 pg/mL.

TABLE 1 Cytokine/chemokine secretion (mean ± SD pg/mL) after stimulationof mock- or NKG2D-DAP10- CD3zeta-transduced NK cells with anti-NKG2D^(a)No stimulation Stimulation NKG2D- NKG2D- Cytokine/ DAP10- DAP10-Chemokine Mock CD3zeta Mock CD3zeta GM-CSF 20 ± 17 18 ± 16 71 ± 50 750 ±310 IFN-γ 9 ± 8 12 ± 8  81 ± 62 717 ± 466 IL-2 606 ± 15^(b ) 580 ±27^(b ) 521 ± 48^(b ) 375 ± 75^(b ) IL-13 <5 <5 49 ± 42 198 ± 121 MIP-1α126 ± 88  233 ± 147 482 ± 349 4952 ± 2151 MIP-1β 178 ± 67  346 ± 88  956± 198 9931 ± 827  Rantes 310 ± 47  500 ± 37  1267 ± 188  5354 ± 541 TNF-α 13 ± 11 12 ± 10 110 ± 80  974 ± 559 Eotaxin <5 <5 <5 7 ± 7 FGF-212 ± 4  14 ± 10 15 ± 7  32 ± 29 Flt-3L <5 9 ± 1 10 ± 3  24 ± 22Fractalkine 24 ± 17  9 ± 16 43 ± 7  55 ± 37 GRO 5 ± 9 <5 <5 <5 IFN-α2 <5<5 <5 10 ± 15 IL-1rα <5 <5 8 ± 7 <5 IL-5 <5 <5 <5 5 ± 4 IL-8 <5 <5 <5 10± 8  MCP-1 <5 <5 <5 7 ± 5 PDGF-AA <5 <5 <5 6 ± 2 TNF-β <5 <5 <5 15 ± 9 VEGF 12 ± 11 20 ± 18 12 ± 11  9 ± 16 sCD40L 10 ± 3  14 ± 13 17 ± 4  34 ±34 ^(a)NK cells expanded from 3 donors, either transduced withNKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta or mock-transduced, were incubated with anti-BiotinMACSiBeads (Miltenyi Biotec, Auburn, CA) coated with biotin-anti NKG2D(clone 1D11; eBioscience; San Diego, CA) antibody (ten beads for one NKcell). Supernatants were collected after 16 hours at 37° C. and analyzedusing the Luminex human cytokine/chemokine panel I (41 humancytokines/chemokines) (Merck Millipore; Billerica, MA). Supernatantscollected from cells cultured without anti-NKG2D beads were alsostudied. ^(b)Exogenous IL-2 (50 IU/ml) was present in the tissue culturemedium.

To further explore the mechanisms underlying the enhancement ofcytotoxicity triggered by the NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta receptors,immunofluorescence imaging studies were performed using the U-2 OS cellline as a target. In experiments with NK cells from 3 donors, thoseexpressing the NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta receptors produced clear increases intarget cell apoptosis when compared to mock-transfected cells (11.7±2.9versus 3.3±0.6 apoptotic cells/0.07 mm²; P=0.033). These gains could notbe attributed to an increase in cell speed movement or cell trackdisplacement length, which were similar for receptor- andmock-transduced NK cells: 0.027±0.01 versus 0.027±0.01 μm/sec, and18.1±10.1 versus 17.5±6.7 μm, respectively.

Continuous stimulation via NKG2D ligation may result in a hyporesponsivestatus (Vivier et al., 2011, Science 331:44-49). To test theanergy-inducing potential of NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta signaling as comparedto that of endogenous NKG2D, mock- and NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta-transduced NKcells with the anti-NKG2D agonistic antibody were cultured, andexocytosis of lytic granules with CD107a staining over 48 hours wasmonitored. Mock-transduced NK cells were unable to degranulate after 24or 48 hours of stimulation. By contrast, a substantial proportion ofNKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta-transduced NK cells were CD107a-positive 24 and 48hours after continuous NKG2D ligation (FIG. 4C). Hence, NK cells bearingthe receptor are capable of exerting cytotoxicity even after prolongedengagement of NKG2D.

6.2.5 Cytotoxicity of NK Cells Expressing NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta inXenografts

To test the anti-tumor capacity of NK cells expressingNKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta in vivo, a xenograft model of osteosarcoma wasgenerated by injecting luciferase-labeled U-2 OS cells (2×10⁵)intraperitoneally (i.p.) in 12 immunodeficient (NOD/scid-IL2Rgnull) mice(FIG. 5). In 4 mice without treatment, U-2 OS cells progressivelyexpanded. Another four mice were injected with 2×10⁵ U-2 OS i.p. andthen a single i.p. injection of mock-transduced NK cells (3×10⁶) 7 dayslater, followed by four daily IL-2 i.p. injections; U-2 OS cells in thisgroup also expanded. A third group of four mice was injected with anidentical number of U-20S i.p. and a single i.p injection of NK cellstransduced with the NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta construct (3×10⁶) followed byfour daily IL-2 i.p. injections. Seven days after the NK cells wereinjected, the average signal intensity decreased dramatically andoverall tumor burden remained significantly lower to that measured inmice treated with mock-transduced NK cells (P=0.0028 by 2-way ANOVA;FIG. 5).

6.2.6 Expression of NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta by Electroporation

Although effective, gene expression by retroviral transduction presentsconsiderable practical constraints for large-scale clinical application.It was previously observed that electroporation of mRNA results inhighly efficient expression of functional receptors in NK cells, andthat this method can be adapted to a clinical-grade protocol for geneticengineering of large cell numbers (Shimasaki et al., 2012, Cytotherapy14:830-840). To determine whether the NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta receptor couldbe expressed by this method, mRNA encoding NKG2D-CD3zeta and DAP10 wasproduced, electroporated into expanded NK cells, and NKG2D expressionwas determined 24 hours later. As shown in FIG. 6A, electroporationresulted in high NKG2D expression. NK cells electroporated with thereceptor were markedly more cytotoxic against the U2-OS cell line thanmock-electroporated NK cells (FIG. 6B).

6.3 Discussion

The NKG2D activating receptor is central to capacity of NK cells tosense cellular stress and lyse virally-infected and tumor cells (Vivieret al., 2011, Science 331:44-49; Champsaur et al., 2010, Immunol. Rev.235:267-285; Smyth et al., 2005, J Exp. Med. 202:583-588, Routes et al.,2005, J Exp. Med. 202:1477-82; Karimi et al., 2005, J. Immunol.175:7819-7828; Guerra et al., 2008, Immunity 28:571-580; Cho et al.,2010, Clin. Cancer Res. 16:3901-3909; Raulet, 2003, Nat. Rev. Immunol.3:781-790; Bryceson et al., 2008, Eur. J. Immunol. 38:2957-2961). Thisstudy demonstrated that expression of an activating receptor with thebinding specificity of NKG2D and the combined signaling capacities ofDAP10 and CD3zeta considerably enhances the cytotoxicity of activated NKcells against leukemias and solid tumors. The increase in NK-mediatedanti-tumor activity were also evident in experiments withimmunodeficient mice engrafted with osteosarcoma cells, where NK cellsexpressing NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta receptors produced marked tumorreductions while mock-transduced activated NK cells were ineffective.The cytotoxicity of NK cells expressing NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta receptorswas directly triggered by engagement of NKG2D. In contrast, receptorexpression did not significantly increase cytotoxicity againstnon-transformed cells with low or no NKG2D ligand expression, or againstleukemic cells lacking NKG2D-ligands. While most of the experimentspresented above relied on retroviral transfection of the receptor, amethod to efficiently express the receptor by electroporation wasdeveloped, thus greatly facilitating its clinical application for celltherapy of cancer (Shimasaki et al., 2012, Cytotherapy 14:830-840).

The configuration of the NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta receptor, which allows forsignal transduction by both DAP10 and CD3zeta, differs from the typicalchimeric-antigen receptors (“CARs”), which contain either one signalingmolecule, or a stimulatory plus a co-stimulatory molecule in tandem(Kohn et al., 2011, Molecular Therapy: The Journal of the AmericanSociety of Gene Therapy, 19:432-438). In keeping with previous reportsindicating that DAP10 promotes NKG2D expression on the surface membrane(Wu et al., 1999, Science 285:730-732; Diefenbach et al., 2002, Nat.Immunol. 3:1142-1149; Garrity et al., 2005, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA.102:7641-7646; Horng et al., 2007, Nat. Immunol. 8:1345-1352),expression of the NKG2D-CD3ζ construct was found to be significantlyimproved by concomitant expression of DAP10, regardless of whetherexpression was enforced by retroviral transduction or electroporation.It has been reported that a receptor coupling NKG2D and CD3ζ could beexpressed in T lymphocytes and enhanced their cytotoxicity againstlymphoma (Zhang et al., 2007, Cancer Res. 67:11029-11036), myeloma(Barber et al., 2008, Exp. Hematol., 36:1318-1328), ovarian cancer(Barber et al., 2009, J. Immunol. 183:6939-6947) and Ewing's sarcomacells (Lehner et al., 2012, PloS. One 7:e31210).

NKG2D-DAP10-CD3ζ-receptor signaling augmented the cytotoxicity ofactivated NK cells against a wide spectrum of tumor cell targets. It hasalso been shown that the pattern of NKG2D ligand partitioning in thetarget cell membrane, and the degree of ligand shedding can play a rolein triggering cytotoxicity (Martinez et al., 2011, J. Immunol.186:5538-5542; Salih et al., 2002, J. Immunol. 169:4098-4102;Aguera-Gonzalez et al., 2011, Eur. J. Immunol. 41:3667-3676). Gains incytotoxicity brought about by NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta receptor expressionwere dependent on its signaling, as an antagonist anti-NKG2D antibodyabrogated them. The magnitude of the observed increase (more than twiceas many cells killed within 4 hours in some cases) is particularlynoteworthy considering that the NK cells included in these studies wereactivated and can exert cytotoxicities which are already significantlyhigher than those of primary and IL-2 activated NK cells (Fujisaki etal., 2009, Cancer Res. 69: 4010-4017). Thus, the cytotoxicity potentialof activated NK cells is not maximal and can be further enhanced byboosting activating signals.

Persistent stimulation of NK cells may result in suppression of NK cellfunction (Coudert et al., 2005, Blood 106:1711-1717; Oppenheim et al.,2005, Nat. Immunol. 6:928-937). Indeed, mock-transduced NK cells wereunable to degranulate after 24 hours of continuous stimulation. However,a considerable proportion of the same NK cells expressingNKG2D-DAP10-CD3ζ receptors were CD107a positive even after 48 hours ofstimulation, indicating that the combined DAP10 and CD3 zeta signals donot accelerate the occurrence of hyporesponsiveness; on the contrary,they significantly prolong NK cell function. The NKG2D receptor has beenshown to contribute to autoimmunity, but pathological responses againstnormal tissues could be attributed to the fraction of CD8 T lymphocytesexpressing this receptor and not to NK cells (Markiewicz et al., 2012,Immunity 36:132-141). These studies showed that expression of theNKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta receptor did not significantly increase cytotoxicityagainst non-transformed peripheral blood lymphocytes or bonemarrow-derived mesenchymal cells. For clinical application, thispotential problem should be prevented by careful depletion of T cellsfrom the NK cell product together with transient expression of thereceptor by electroporation.

It is well established that donor NK cell alloreactivity suppressesleukemia relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic stem celltransplantation (Ruggeri et al., 2002, Science 295:2097-2100; Cooley etal., 2010, Blood 116:2411-2419). Infusion of NK cells in anon-transplant setting has shown promise in some studies (Miller et al.,2005, Blood 105:3051-3057; Rubnitz et al., 2010, J Clin Oncol.28:955-959), and hence this approach is being active pursued at severalcenters using either freshly purified or activated NK cells.

The method described herein offers a novel method for increasing theanti-tumor efficacy of NK cell therapy and widen its application.Stimulation via the NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta receptor also resulted in amarked increase in cytokine/chemokine secretion. Thus, NK-derivedGM-CSF, IFNγ and TNFα promote monocyte differentiation, macrophageactivation and dendritic cell maturation (Vivier et al., 2011, Science331:44-49; Goldszmid et al, 2012, Immunity 36:1047-1059; Spear et al.,2012, J. Immunol. 188:6389-6398). These cellular effects should beimportant during immune-responses against pathogens, suggesting thatinfusion of NKG2D-DAP10-CD3zeta-NK cells should also be useful astherapeutics against infectious diseases.

The embodiments described herein are intended to be merely exemplary,and those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertainusing no more than routine experimentation, numerous equivalents to thespecific procedures described herein. All such equivalents areconsidered to be within the scope of the present invention and arecovered by the following claims.

All references (including patent applications, patents, andpublications) cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety and for all purposes to the same extent as if each individualpublication or patent or patent application was specifically andindividually indicated to be incorporated by reference in its entiretyfor all purposes.

1-37. (canceled)
 38. A method of treating a cancer using immunotherapy,the method comprising: administering to a subject having the cancer apopulation of engineered Natural Killer (NK) cells comprising a chimericreceptor, wherein the chimeric receptor is a cell-surface receptor,wherein the cell-surface receptor comprises at least two polypeptidedomains not naturally found together on a single protein, wherein thecell-surface receptor comprises an extracellular ligand binding domain,wherein the extracellular ligand binding domain comprises an NKG2Dextracellular ligand binding domain capable of binding one or morenative ligands of NKG2D (NKG2DL), wherein the NKG2D extracellular ligandbinding domain is functional fragment of the NKG2D of the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 12, wherein the cell-surface receptor furthercomprises a cytoplasmic signaling domain that is a derivative of theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10, wherein the cytoplasmic signalingdomain retains the ability to induce secretion of one or more of GM-CSF,IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-13, or MIP-1α upon the functional fragment of the NKG2Dbinding an NKG2DL.
 39. The method of claim 38, wherein the proliferationof cancer cells contacted with the population of NK cells is inhibitedor reduced by at least 25% as compared to cancer cells contacted with anative NK cell population.
 40. The method of claim 38, wherein thecytoplasmic signaling domain is at least 98% homologous to the aminoacid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10, wherein the population of NK cellsexhibit a cytotoxic effect against cells of a tumor, wherein thepopulation of NK cells exhibit a cytotoxic effect of less than 20%against non-tumor cells, wherein the NKG2D extracellular ligand bindingdomain retains at least 95% of a function of a native NKG2D polypeptideand is therefore capable of binding one or more of MICA, MICB, ULBP1,ULBP2, ULBP3, ULBP4, ULBP5, and ULBP6.
 41. The method of claim 38,wherein the cancer is a cancer of B-cell origin.
 42. The method of claim41, wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting ofB-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia, B-cell chronic lymphocyticleukemia and B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
 43. The method of claim 38,wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of lung cancer,melanoma, breast cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, renal cellcarcinoma, ovarian cancer, neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, leukemia andlymphoma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, small cell lung cancer,Hodgkin's lymphoma, or childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
 44. Themethod of claim 38, wherein upon administration the population of NKcells enhances one or more immune functions or responses by at least 30%as compared to a native NK cell population.
 45. The method of claim 44,wherein the immune functions or responses comprises: cytokine release,wherein the cytokine is one or more of interferon-gamma, IL-2, IL-5,IL-10, IL-12, or TGF-beta; NK cell proliferation; T cell proliferation;antibody production; or effector function, wherein the effector functioncomprises cytotoxicity.
 46. A composition for treating a cancer usingimmunotherapy, said composition comprising: a therapeutically effectiveamount of an expanded population of engineered NK cells comprising achimeric receptor, the chimeric receptor comprising at least twopolypeptide domains not naturally found together on a single protein,wherein the cell-surface receptor comprises an extracellular ligandbinding domain capable of binding one or more native ligands of NKG2D(NKG2DL), wherein the extracellular ligand binding domain is afunctional fragment of a native NKG2D, wherein the NKG2D functionalfragment retains at least 75% of the ability to activate one or more ofsignal transduction pathways induced by binding of a native NKG2DL toNKG2D, wherein the cell-surface receptor further comprises a CD3zetacytoplasmic signaling domain that is a derivative of a native CD3zeta,wherein the CD3zeta cytoplasmic signaling domain retains at least 80% ofa function of a native CD3zeta polypeptide. wherein the function of anative CD3zeta comprises one or more of enhancing cytotoxicity andanti-tumor capacity of the NK cells against target cells, promotingsignal transduction, increasing cytokine and/or chemokine secretion,increasing target cell apoptosis, and sustaining cytotoxicity againsttarget cells.
 47. The composition of claim 46, wherein the population ofNK cells comprises between about 1×10⁶ to 1×10⁸ NK cells.
 48. Thecomposition of claim 46, wherein the population of NK cells isautologous to a subject being treated.
 49. The composition of claim 46,wherein the population of NK cells is allogeneic to a subject beingtreated.
 50. The composition of claim 46, wherein administration of thepopulation of NK cells to a subject with cancer inhibits or reduces thegrowth of a tumor by at least 2-fold relative to the growth of a tumorin a subject with cancer administered a native NK cell population. 51.The composition of claim 46, wherein administration of the population ofNK cells to a subject with cancer inhibits or reduces the size of atumor by at least 10% relative to the tumor size in a subject withcancer receiving a native NK cell population.
 52. The composition ofclaim 46, wherein the induction of signal transduction pathways bybinding of a native NKG2DL to NKG2D comprises phosphorylation of one ormore of CREB1, TBK1, ACK1, Tyk2, CdC25c, PRK2, MEKK2, EGFR, CDK4, Tyk2,Abl, and Ksr1.
 53. The composition of claim 46, wherein the one or moreone or more native ligands are MICA, MICB, ULBP1, ULBP2, ULBP3, ULBP4,ULBP5, or ULBP6.
 54. A composition for treating a cancer usingimmunotherapy, said composition comprising: a therapeutically effectiveamount of an expanded population of NK cells, said NK cells comprising acell-surface receptor comprising at least two polypeptide domains notnaturally found together on a single protein, said cell-surface receptorcomprising a stimulatory molecule and an extracellular ligand bindingdomain, the stimulatory molecule being at least 98% homologous to theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10, wherein the extracellular ligandbinding domain is capable of binding one or more of MICA, MICB, ULBP1,ULBP2, ULBP3, ULBP4, ULBP5, and ULBP6, the extracellular ligand bindingdomain being a functional fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ IDNO: 12, and wherein said extracellular ligand binding domain binds MICA,MICB, ULBP1, ULBP2, ULBP3, ULBP4, ULBP5, or ULBP6 with 1 log higheraffinity than a native NKG2D polypeptide.
 55. The composition of claim54, wherein the stimulatory molecule induces secretion of one or more ofGM-CSF, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-13, or MIP-1α upon the extracellular ligandbinding domain binding one or more of MICA, MICB, ULBP1, ULBP2, ULBP3,ULBP4, ULBP5, and ULBP6.
 56. The composition of claim 54, whereinadministration to a subject with cancer of the population of NK cellsinhibits or reduces tumor growth or cancer cell proliferation by atleast 25%.
 57. The composition of claim 54, wherein administration ofthe population of NK cells to a subject with cancer yields a decrease inthe number or size of metastases.